With a record number of winged visitors, Sultanpur National Park in Gurugram has a new feather in its cap. The wetland planes of northern India have turned into a paradise of migratory birds because of heavy snowfall in Siberia, eastern Europe, Mongolia and northern China. Gurugram's wildlife department has recorded 60 per cent more such long-distance fliers at the Sultanpur sanctuary this season with many rare birds seen here for the first time.
The park has also broken all records in terms of the number of domestic and migratory birds. The previous highest figure was 60,000. But this time, it has counted 1.25 lakh birds, with 40,000 of them flying in from abroad. ShyamSundar Kaushik, divisional forest officer (DFO) of wildlife Gurugram range told Mail Today that migratory birds have been flocking here since the winter season started and arrivals will continue if the chill in the air remains for the next few days.
"We have registered 25,000 migratory pelicans of 40 varieties last season and the figure in this category has reached 40,000 already with at least 35 more varieties of birds this season. This is an encouraging sign for us and it is also an indication of good air quality in the region," Kaushik said.
WHAT MADE THE BIRDS MIGRATE HERE?
"The period between September and March is ideal breeding time for all birds in India near the Tropic of Cancer. We have made adequate food arrangements in the wetland areas spreading over 182 acres inside the sanctuary. Ideal breeding space inside the park also helps in enhancing the population of birds."
The wildlife department has its own census process to count birds. Camera- trapping is also helpful in this exercise. The figures are significant as the park was closed for over a month following a bird flu scare in Delhi and Hisar late last year. According to officials, migratory birds such as the brown-breasted flycatcher, scaly thrush, Asian brown flycatcher, large tailed nightjar, besra, grey-headed lapwing, leaf warbler, domicile crane, spotted crane, etc have been seen in the park for the first time.
The sanctuary is a popular picnic spot for NCR residents, especially during winter when thousands of birds visit here from across the globe. There are four watch towers (machans) located at different points, an education and interpretation centre, a library, films, slides and binoculars for the benefit of bird lovers. Sube Singh, a bird specialist and guide at Sultanpur National Park, believes that birds are quite sensitive to nature and climate change.
They always look for food and ideal conditions with security. "The chirm of migratory and domestic birds is attracting a large number of visitors. Last weekend, we registered four thousand footfalls in the park and if conditions will remain the same for the next few days, it will attract more and more people from across NCR," he said.
Apart from the Sultanpur sanctuary, a large number of migratory birds are seen in the Manger forest and Damdama lake of the Aravalli region. The Sultanpur-Najafgarh-Jhajjar corridor is also an ideal place for domestic and migratory birds to stay in the winter season. The Jhajjhar bird sanctuary is also witnessing a large number of migratory birds.
