By Avijit Biswas
Bhagalpur: It could be heartening for bird lovers to know that despite less water and weed infestation in water bodies encouraging diversity of bird species including those of local and migratory birds have been witnessed this season in this district as well as adjoining Banka district.
The Asian Water Bird Census -2023 (AWC-2023) undertaken recently in Banka and this district has revealed presence of more diverse species of birds in and around wetlands though total count of birds is slightly less this year compared to total count of Asian Water Bird Census-2022 (AWC-2022).
Peregrine Falcon or Sahi Baaz, considered to be fastest hunter bird besides Booted or Steppe Eagle, endangered migratory hunter bird were among diverse bird species sighted first time in course of census.
The practice of undertaking bird count during winter, the arrival time of migratory birds, under AWC was introduced in state last year at behest of state government department of environment, forest and climate change and Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). As per available information total 75 bird sites in state would be covered for census in current year.
Taking together Banka and this district total three wetlands namely Jagatpur Lake, Ganga Pd Lake located in Naugachia subdivision of this district besides Orhini Dam in Banka district were covered for census.
Dr D N Choudhary, associate professor in postgraduate department of zoology, T. M Bhagalpur University who is district coordinator of Banka and Bhagalpur for AWC -23 confirmed first time sighting of some migratory and local bird species this year.
He told view19.in that because of less water and infestation of water hyacinth in lakes the condition of wetlands it can be said is not perfectly ideal for stay of the winged guests as well as the local birds.
However it was really encouraging to find though aquatic ecosystem of wetlands is not up to the mark in most cases there has been no major drop in bird presence around wetlands, Dr Choudhury said. He added the bird presence in wetland areas in both Banka and this district is only marginally less compared to last year.
Dr Choudhury confirmed Peregrine Falcon besides Booted or Steppe Eagle was sighted for the first time in this area at Jagatpur Lake. Common Kestrel, a migratory hunter bird , migratory coots besides migratory ducks such as lalsir, Pintail ducks, Chaita, Karchia, Karra, Gugrail , Osprey apart from resident species Purple Heron, Greater Adjutant Stork apart from number of other migratory and local birds were sighted in abundance during census , he informed.
Dr Choudhury said overall the bird census undertaken under AWC -23 in Banka and this district has revealed that the wetlands of this area remains favoured place of stay and nesting for migratory and local birds.
The members of the team involved in bird census included Dr T K Ghosh, president, Mandar Nature Club, Rahul Rohitarav, Sumit Kumar Sum, Deepak Sah, Gopal Rai, Jai Kumar Jai, Atul Samiran, Rajeev Ranjan, Pintoo Kumar and Rahul Nayan.
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