There is some good news for the Capital.

Delhi saw some rare migratory birds this winter despite global climate change, its impact on migratory birds and disturbed bird habitat.

Sightings after a decade

“This February, though we did not have a large population of birds at the Okhla Bird Sanctuary, we sighted the rare winter migratory duck called greater scaup. This happened after almost after a decade. The last sighting was recorded at the Sultanpur National Park in Gurugram. Besides this, two pairs of common shelduck were seen after four years and flocks of greater flamingo were sighted after a year,” said ecologist T.K. Roy.

The Okhla Bird Sanctuary falls in the central flyway migratory route of water birds.

Diversity hit

Mr. Roy said that the diversity of terrestrial birds had reduced this year, except the unusual sighting of a few migratory raptor species like peregrine falcon and the greater spotted eagle.

Expert speak

“As many as 30 species of winter migratory water birds are being sighted now in the sanctuary after the water level reduced to normal. Around 15 species of waders and 11 species of ducks, geese and other species — including six species listed under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species — have been spotted here,” he added.