Kashmir has received over seven lakh migratory birds this year, reveals different surveys carried in 23 wetlands located in different parts of the valley.
Some prominent wetlands surveyed included Hokersar, Shalibug, Hygam, Mirgund, Dal, Anchar, Narkara, Narbag, Waspura, and Wular. Four small wetlands of Pampore area and a small patch of land near power house Baramulla were also surveyed.
Precisely, 7,29,000 birds have visited various wetlands of Kashmiri in 2016.
According to Wildlife Warden Kashmir, Imtiyaz Ahmad Lone, around 37 species of birds were counted this year which consisted of 25 migratory and 12 resident species.
Imtiyaz says the number of birds visiting these wetlands was low at the onset of Chillai Kalaan (the winter season of Kashmir) because of unprecedented dryness however it picked up when first part of the season was over.
“In the month of January this year, the valley witnessed shortage of supposed precipitation that led to lesser number of birds visiting wetlands, but when the dryness broke towards the end of the season, the water of these wetlands started to rise, and as such the number of migratory birds visiting these wetlands also increased,” said Lone.
The number of migratory birds visiting Kashmir in 2016 is much higher than the last year since only 13 wetlands were surveyed in 2015 and the number of birds then counted was 5,67,000.
“On deriving mean, we find the number of birds visiting the wetlands of the valley is declining at a disturbing rate,” said Lone.
According to Lone, Hokersar wetland (located 14 kilometres north of Srinagar) which is being visited by thousands of birds from Siberia and other regions of Central Asia every year, has shown decline in the number of these feathered visitors.
“The number of Mallard and Grey Leg Geese, which are prominent birds visiting this site, has sharply declined this season,” Lone said while blaming unfavourable climate.
The exotic birds like Mallards, Grey leg Geese, Gadwalls, Teals, Shovellers, Pochards and Coots are among the birds visiting Kashmir valley.
Lone admitted that in earlier years, the estimation was a guess work but now they are “counting the birds in a proper scientific way” according to the internationally accepted guidelines.
“We counted the birds according to a strategy crafted by wetlands International South East Asia, which is internationally accepted and used strategy.”
Lone said that they had already conducted a two day workshop in advance for the volunteers, who had come from different Institutions like Universities or NGO’s to show them (volunteers) how to count the number of birds.
“We provided them with binoculars and told them how to estimate the number of birds,” Lone said.
This year Kashmir welcomed over 7 lakh winged visitors
