Visit of these avian guests to these mid-Himalayan zones of terai/bhawar during this time every year is a routine feature. Wildlife experts who have been closely monitoring the lifecycle of these migratory birds for years here, believe that ideally post-monsoon season when it stops raining, declining trends in atmospheric temperature marks the beginning of the migration of these birds from the sub-zero trans-Himalayan /Siberian zones of the globe.

PK Patro, divisional forest officer, terai-east forest division, while talking to The Pioneer, said that birds from far western regions like Siberia have started migrating to warmer pockets of mid-Himalayan zones like terai/bhawar.

Migration of these birds from tougher upper Himalayan regions or sub-zero Siberian zones continues with the deteriorating weather conditions, but the peak time of migration of these birds is December and January when temperatures remain very low, Patro said.

Though there are several types of migratory birds, among others which mostly visit here include Rudy Shell Duck, Common Pochard, Mallard, Bar Headed Goose, Tufted Duck, Green Sand Piper to name a few, say the wildlife experts.

The terai/bhawar belt of Uttarakhand is a favourite destination for these migratory avian guests mainly because of its rich natural resources and flora and fauna. A number of water bodies i.e. both natural and artificial only make these habitats more favourable for the birds, bird watchers reveal. The fact of the matter is that these water bodies are not only a much-needed reliable drinking water source but also provide food like fishes and other insects, when due to winter conditions scope for food in the open remains minimum.

In terai region here natural water bodies like local rivers including Ramganga, Koshi, Begul, Boar river, dams like Tumria dam, Haripura Jalasay, Nanakmatta dam, Sharda barrage in Tanakpur, and many artificial water bodies can be seen flocked with motley flock of different variety of migratory birds and local bird species.

The interesting fact is that with increasing enthusiasm among nature lovers, for many, bird watching has become a passion and for others it has also become a profession. People can be seen monitoring movements of these birds, their habits, behaviours.

“We have to learn all these things and more importantly, identify these birds so that we can guide our guests and tourists,” said Prem Pandey, a local tour operator. Since there is increased awareness among the people, whenever they visit here during this period we have to arrange sightseeing at the bird sanctuaries, Pandey revealed.

But while favourable conditions of terai region make it livable for these birds, bird poachers have come as a new threat and a menace for the forest department here.

“We are aware of bird poaching and keeping in that in view, we have to alert our entire existing staff and redeploy it so as to protect these birds from these poachers,” said Patro.