Extreme global climate change has kept water migratory birds away from the wetlands in the Delhi and national capital region. There has been a decline in the number of migratory species that are seen near the wetland areas during the current autumn season this year. According to the Asian Waterbird Census (AWC), conducted by ecologist TK Roy, there has been a sharp decline in the migration of long distant water birds and he attributed this to the global climate change, which impacts the migratory trend of birds, apart from leading to shrinking wetlands.
Roy said several wetlands -Najafgarh Jheel, Sultanpur N P wetland, Surajpur Reserve Forest's wetland, Okhla Bird Sanctuary on River Yamuna, Dhanauri village wetland, Bhindawas WL Sanctuary wetland, witnessed lesser water birds this autumn. Roy, who visited some wetlands to take stock of the arrival of migratory water birds, found that there are no arrival of water birds this year. He also found that Okhla Bird Sanctuary, Noida is completely dried up by irrigation dept and forest department due to unauthorized concrete work of the road and side wall, that is violation of the Wild Life (Protection Act) 1972 and Supreme Court Order 2010.
He also found that Surajpur Reserve Forest Wetland in Greater Noida covered by water hyacinth partly cleaned and water level increased by channelize water but again causing disturbance. Only a few migratory species in a few numbers arrival recorded as Common Teal, Eurasian Coot, Northern Shoveler, Ferruginous Duck, etc but only few Northern Shovelers now. During his visit to Dhanauri Wetland, Greater Noida, he found a shallow smaller wetland almost covered by water hyacinth, hardly any migratory water birds' arrival record. In Sultanpur National Park, Haryana, Roy found shallow wetland revived by irrigation's channelize water but wetland grass covered large area still few migratory species comparatively better arrival recorded as Common Teal, Eurasian Coot, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Ferruginous Duck, Eurasian Wigeon, etc. Similarly, he found a large areas of the wetland covered by water hyacinth and hardly any migratory species record except a few Northern Shoveler, Common Teal, in Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary in Haryana.
Roy further stated that during his visit to Najafgarh wetland in Delhi and Haryana, he found a large part of the wetland have dried up mostly in Haryana and started agriculture while Delhi side little dipper wetland cleaning, along road-side tree line completely uprooted and huge illegal regular fishing on floating tubes disturbance migratory birds do not stay and in far shallow areas recorded only smaller number of few migratory duck species as Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Common Teal, Ferruginous Duck, Eurasian Coot and few wader species on the drying wetland in Haryana side as Little Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Little Stint, Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail, Pied Avocet, Great Cormorant, etc.
Asian Waterbirds Census (AWC) records the number of migratory birds coming to these wetlands every year.
