‘Unnatural diet’, ‘severe cold’ caused birds’ death in Sukhna Nishu Mahajan

The Pioneer , Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Correspondent :
The ‘unnatural diet’ and ‘severe cold conditions’ in Chandigarh have proved fatal for the migratory birds this year.

Eight migratory birds were found dead at Sukhna Lake in the last two months. The migratory birds found dead were from two different species, including common pochard and common coots.

According to the UT Forest and Wildlife department, the common pochards and common coots are regular visitors at Sukhna Lake during winters, migrating from Central Asia.

This year, the migratory birds were seen flocking the walkway at Sukhna Lake where visitors often feed them with ‘unnatural diet’, including bread crumbs, chips, roasted gram, among others. According to reports received by the UT Wildlife and Forest department regarding the cause of death of migratory birds, seven birds died due to enlarged liver caused due to food poisoning while one died due to harsh cold conditions in the city this winter. The UT Wildlife department had sent the body of dead birds to veterinary laboratory in Jalandhar, Punjab to determine the cause of death and to check if avian flu was responsible.

As per the reports received, no signs of H5N1 avian influenza or any another virus was found in the migratory birds that died in last two months. The massive liver necrosis characterised by an enlarged liver was the cause of death of seven migratory birds.

The UT Forest and Wildlife department had sounded an alert after the recovery of dead migratory birds at Sukhna Lake. And, signages of warning against human feeding to migratory birds were put up at the Sukhna Lake, besides deputing forest guards or field officers to keep vigil at the lake and Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary.

Talking to The Pioneer, UT Conservator of Forests-cum-Chief Wildlife Warden Santosh Kumar said “As per the reports of the veterinary laboratory, the death of seven migratory birds occurred due to liver infection. The birds had fed on some food items which caused the infection.”

He said, “Some regular migratory birds’ species in Chandigarh have lost all fear of humans and are seen getting closer to humans and scrambling for food items offered by them. This year, a large number of migratory birds were seen flocking the walkway and the boating area.”

He added, “One migratory bird died due to severe cold conditions in the city during winters.”

This year, Chandigarh had recorded its coldest day in its history with a minimum temperature of 6.1 degree Celsius.

Maintaining that there is no bird flu scare, the Chief Wildlife Warden added “no symptoms of bird flu were found in the migratory birds. They died because of poisoning or due to cold. The Jalandhar veterinary laboratory had conducted various tests and confirmed that there were no signs of bird flu.”

At present, the UT Forest and Wildlife department is also keeping check on activities like poaching, etc which are harmful for migratory birds. And, instructions to the visitors not to feed anything to the birds were also issued. In 2007 also, over a dozen migratory birds had died at Sukhna Lake after suspected ‘bacterial poisoning’.

This year, the UT Forest and Wildlife department has claimed that about 4,000 migratory birds had reached Chandigarh escaping the severe cold conditions in their areas after braving the high snow-laden peaks of Himalayas. The winged beauties have made their abode at the Sukhna Lake and at various water bodies of Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary.

The migratory birds reach Chandigarh every year by mid-November from Siberia, Central Asia, China, Afghanistan and the upper Himalayas and their stay lasts till March or April.

Last year, over 8,000 migratory birds had arrived here while in 2010 over 12,000 had arrived and nearly 8,000 migratory birds had gathered here in 2009.

The regular winged guests here include common pochards, tufted ducks, common coot, Brahmi duck, gray heron, grey leggy, white-eyed pochards, green sand piper, redshanks, goose, siberian ducks, crane, shell duck, red-crusted pochard, etc.

 
SOURCE : http://dailypioneer.com/nation/132986-unnatural-diet-severe-cold-caused-birds-death-in-sukhna.html
 


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