This story is from March 14, 2015

Winged guests fly in despite adversities

Despite widespread poaching and growing pollution levels, Jharkhand continues to be the favorite winter retreat for the migratory birds with over 29 species arriving each year, claimed the state’s first ever bird census.
Winged guests fly in despite adversities
RANCHI: Despite widespread poaching and growing pollution levels, Jharkhand continues to be the favorite winter retreat for the migratory birds with over 29 species arriving each year, claimed the state’s first ever bird census. The study, which was conducted by the forest and wildlife department in association with the Asian Waterbird Association and local ornithologists recently, has dismissed all speculations over dwindling habitats of water birds in the state and the changing preferences of the feathered folk.

The study, which began early this year and was conducted across 25 water bodies (dams, lakes and wildlife sanctuaries) that serve as the nesting sites for thousands of migratory and resident water birds, has recorded the presence of 78 species in total. The total population, which has been estimated on basis of spotting, is a little over 71,000.
Prominent among the winged guests that arrive each year are the Red Crested Pochards, Common Coots, Bar-headed Geese, Tufted Duck while the Northern Pintail and Northern Shoveller arrive in fair numbers. In total, 37,000 migratory birds were spotted this year. Other bird species like the Large Whistling Duck, Comb Duck, Cotton Teal, Gadwall, Eurasian Wigeon and Mallard were also spotted. However, contrary to the long held belief, the feathered guests were tracked down to Mongolia and Central Asia as their places of origin in place of Siberia. A total of 11 species, which are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) were also sighted during the study. Maximum bird count was observed at Masanjore and Chandil Dams and the Udhwa Lake Bird Sanctuary.
“The study proves that Jharkhand is still the favoured place (for the migratory birds. The large population of resident waterbirds also shows that the habitat here is still in good shape,” said BC Nigam, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and PCCL wildlife (PCCF-WL) on Friday. Nigam said that the census will define the initiatives to be undertaken in coming days, which will be chalked out soon. Though the report has come as an excitement for the forest departments and ornithologists, a few of them have expressed concerns over their dwindling habitat. “Though the report is encouraging, there are observations which must be taken note of immediately. For instance pollution levels are growing in these water bodies, which if not curbed, can be disastrous,” said Indrajeet Samanta from Koderma, an independent ornithologist who assisted the survey in the Tilaiya Dam in Koderma.
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