Sharp drop in migratory birds number on back of good rains

BHOPAL: There is a significant decline in population of migratory birds visiting Bhopal this winter. Water bodies with plenty of water on the way of avian guests as they fly towards Bhopal has led to decline in their numbers, experts believe.

Though red crested pochard, bar headed geese and black neck stork that would come in huge numbers are missing, Van Vihar is currently visited by some of the most beautiful migratory birds like Eurasian wegion, black red stort and red throated fly catcher among others.

Van Vihar director BPS Parihar said, "Due to heavy rains in monsoon season, most of migratory birds from north did not reach Bhopal as they encountered other water bodies on their way."

According to Mohammad Khalique, founder member of Bhopal birds' organization, said, "The declining population of migratory birds is bad news for all the birders."

Khalique said, "We are monitoring the species and the population of the birds visiting Bhopal for quiet sometime and this year the population has declined momentously."

"If this situation continues further, the next generation will see these migratory birds only in books."

With the onset of winter, thousands of birds migrate to Indian subcontinent in search of food, breeding ground or to escape the severe winter of their native habitat. Bhopal receives a good share of migratory birds every winter from October to March.

Most of the wetland birds like painted stork, open bill stork and woolly neck stork among others can be seen near water bodies of Bhopal like Upper Lake, Kaliasot and Kerwa Dam.

Khalique said the cause of the decline could be multiple reasons like human interference with the ecosystem, use of pesticides, changing crop pattern and formation of other water bodies in the route of these birds.

Kalique said his organization is planning to conduct an awareness programme for the conservation of sarus crane.

Van Vihar is organizing day-long bird watching camp on February 17 to educate and make people aware of these birds.