31 yrs on, rare goose spotted in Jhajjar village

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Dighal (Jhajjar), November 30

Bird lovers have spotted lesser white-fronted goose, a rare species of migratory birds, in Dighal village of the district after a long time. The winged visitor was last seen in the district’s Bhindawas Bird Sanctuary in 1985.

Rakesh Ahlawat, a birder and resident of Dighal village, first spotted the lesser white-fronted goose swimming in the village pond along with a group of bar-headed geese some days ago. He immediately informed District Forest Officer (DFO) Sunder Sambharya, who later visited the village and captured images of this migratory guest.

Bird watchers not only from Haryana but also from other states are now visiting Dighal to watch this rare winged guest ever since the news about the presence of the migratory bird spread.

“Besides Haryana, bird watchers from Delhi, Mumbai and Punjab have arrived in our village to have a glimpse of the lesser white-fronted goose which is the main attraction in this winter season. A team of bird watchers is likely to visit the village in coming days,” said Ahlawat.

He said migratory birds had been coming to the village for the past five years but this season, the village had become a hot spot for bird watchers due to this rare bird.

“Lesser white-fronted goose comes from Siberia along with bar-headed geese. State birders have been waiting for the bird for the past 31 years,” said Sambharya, adding that the migrant birds generally reached here in October and start returning in March every year.

Dr Chetna Sharma, a bird watcher from Kaithal, said she was overjoyed to see this rare bird. “I have visited the village for the third time today just to watch this rare bird,” said Sharma, a pathologist. She demanded the government should take steps to develop Dighal as a tourist spot.

“I have come to Dighal for the first time after coming to know about the presence of the lesser white-fronted goose here,” said Geeta Goswami, a retired teacher from Panchkula.