By Avijit Biswas
Bhagalpur: Comparatively low presence of winged guests this season at wetlands in district, the potential bird sites, is proving discouraging for bird watchers and bird lovers.
Though currently winter is at its peak however barring few the migratory birds have arrived in less number this season at most of the wetlands located in riverine belt of this district.
The wetlands in riverine belt are generally favoured destination of migratory birds during this time of the year. The ecological degradation of wetlands, bird poaching and increased human interferences, it is felt by bird watchers in most cases are major contributory factors behind thin presence of winged guests at wetland areas this season.
A pre count including both number and diversity of migratory bird species undertaken recently at some major wetlands as part of Asian Water Bird Census -2024 (AWC-2024) has corroborated the potential bird sites of riverine belt is abode of comparatively lesser number of migratory birds this year.
The diverse species of migratory birds sighted in riverine belt particularly in wetland surroundings is also comparatively less this year, the count undertaken as pre survey of AWC-2024 has revealed.
Led by Prof D.N Choudhary of TM Bhagalpur University the coordinator of AWC-2024 for Banka and Bhagalpur districts, a three-member team consisting Rahul Rohit Ashwa and Gyan Chand Gyani both bird watchers, the pre count was undertaken in Jagatpur wetland, Ganga Prasad wetland, Dima wetland, Ghatora Wetland beside some other surrounding wetlands.
At Jagatpur wetland popularly referred as Jagatpur Jheel located across Vikram Shila Setu in northern side of river Ganga the count of resident birds was encouraging. However, team recorded presence of lesser number of migratory birds in wetland and its surroundings.
The Jagatpur wetland it may be mentioned is one of the major bird sites in this region where large number of migratory birds arrive during winter every year. Graylag Goose, Pintail Duck, Red Crested Pochards, White Eye Pochards, Gudwals, Coots, Eurasian Curlew, Grey Shrike, Brown Shrike, Ruffs, Black Tail Godwit, Common Pochard and Wigeon were among the migratory birds sighted by team involved in pre count.
The resident birds spotted by the team included Egrets, Herons, Cormorants, Storks, Lesser Whistling Ducks and Moorhens. At Dimha wetland located in Gopalpur block of Naugachia subdivision, Eurasian Curlew, Northen Pintails beside Pochards were spotted in large number in course of AWC-2023 as per team members.
However, their presence is comparatively less this season at Dimha wetland, they informed. At Ganga Pd Weland also located in Gopalpur block of Naugachia subdivision low count as well as lack of bird diversity was recorded by the team.
At Ghatora wetland located in Bihpur block of Naugachia subdivision however quite large number of Black Tail Godwits, Pintail Ducks, Common Pochard, Gudwals, Red Crested Pochards and Coots were spotted by the team.
Prof D.N Choudhary, coordinator of AWC-24 told view19.in that diversity of bird species was also observed at Ghatora. However, team members found nets have been erected at Pashraha Chour for trapping birds which indicates bird poaching activities in Ghatora wetland.
Weed infestation is one of the major reason wetlands in riverine belt is abode of lesser number of migratory birds this season the coordinator felt. He added increased anthropogenic activities besides human interferences in wetland surroundings is also distracting bird population. Prof Choudhary stressed it is high time when steps need to be taken at government level for preventing ecological degradation of wetlands.
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- Writer Avijit Biswas, former principal correspondent of Hindustan Times Bhagalpur bureau, can be contacted at biswasavijit@yahoo.comContact number (mobile): +919431095516
