The habitat degradation is leading to a decline in the number of bird species in Ropar Wetland and Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary in Punjab.

A survey in the summer-monsoon season, the prime breeding season of birdlife, which recorded 51 bird species in Ropar Wetland Conservation Reserve and 60 bird species in Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary, has pointed out decline in the number of bird species especially water dependent birds in both protected areas.

The avian experts believe that disturbance in natural habitat due to promotion of eco-tourism as revenue generator and water sports activities have negatively impacted the bird species in the State.

The recent summer-monsoon monitoring 2019 in the Ropar Wetland Conservation Reserve has recorded only 51 bird species diversity out of recorded total 127 species in the five years’ survey cum monitoring exercise. This 51 species included 14 species of water and water dependant birds, 37 species of terrestrial birds (3 summer migratory terrestrial species and 1 summer migratory water bird species).

In the five years seasonal survey cum monitoring from 2014 to 2018 in Ropar Wetland  Conservation Reserve, a total of 127 bird species were recorded. This included 61 species of water and water dependant birds and 66 species of terrestrial birds. These 127 species had also included resident and migratory species and largely 80 species of Indian Scheduled Birds under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and six species of IUCN Red-listed Threatened species (near threatened, endangered and vulnerable category). Similarly, in Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary, the recent summer-monsoon 2019 monitoring has recorded 60 bird species diversity out of total 134 species recorded during five years seasonal survey. The 60 bird species included 16 species of water birds and water dependant species and 44 species are terrestrial birds. The terrestrial birds included three species of summer migratory terrestrial birds namely Indian Golden Oriole, Common Hawk Cuckoo and Blue-tailed Bee-eater and one species of summer migratory water bird namely Lesser Whistling Duck.

Among these 60 bird species, 58 species of breeding birds were spotted as the larger numbers of long distant winter migratory water birds and terrestrial bird species had already left in March-April for breeding to their resident habitats.

Earlier, the seasonal survey cum monitoring in Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary from 2014 to 2018 had recorded a total of 134 bird species including 61 species of water and water dependant birds and 73 species of terrestrial birds. These 134 bird species included resident and migratory species and largely 90 species of Indian Schedule birds under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and also, seven species of IUCN Red-listed Threatened species (NT, EN & VU category) indicating richness of birdlife diversity of the sanctuary.

Ropar Wetland is one of the Ramsar sites among the 27 sites listed in India while Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 in Rupnagar district.

While talking to The Pioneer, TK Roy, ecologist and Asia Waterbird Census (AWC) Delhi state-coordinator, who had conducted the survey, said as per the findings of previous years and this year’s summer-monsoon survey, the number of water birds is declining in Ropar Wetland and Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary. At the same time, good numbers of terrestrial bird species were spotted in Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary, which indicates richness and more potential in birdlife diversity in the Sanctuary as compared to Ropar Wetland, which is a Ramsar site.”

He said that during the summer-monsoon 2019 survey, out of the total sightings recorded, 49 species of breeding birds were spotted at Ropar wetland and 58 species of breeding birds at Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary.

Among them, only 14 species of water and water dependant birds were spotted in Ropar Wetland and only 16 species of water birds and water dependant species were recorded in Nangal, he said.

Expressing concern over the decline in number of water bird species, Roy said that human intervention is causing degradation of natural habitat in Ropar wetland. The water pollution, promotion of unregulated eco-tourism, water sports and other activities like rowing is disturbing the natural habitat in Ropar wetland, he said.

As far as Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary is concerned, dry patches in marshland were spotted, probably due to less rainfall during last monsoon season. Efforts need to be made for habitat conservation in the Sanctuary to ensure that the water bird species are not affected, he added.