As many as 1.01 lakh migratory birds of 51 species have been recorded during the annual waterfowl count conducted at Pong wetland in Kangra district of Himachal.
The annual count has brought cheer to the avian enthusiasts and ornithologists, who had expressed apprehensions over the declining number of avian species at Pong wetland after the deaths of more than five thousand birds due to avian influenza H5N1
According to the census conducted by the Wildlife wing of Himachal Forest Department, a total of 1,08,578 birds of 96 species were counted during February 2021, a decline of just six percent in total number as compared to 1,15,701 birds of 114 species recorded at the waterbody last year.
The Pong Dam is one of the largest man-made wetlands in northern India and is known as birds’ paradise as lakhs of migratory birds reach there every winter after flying thousands of miles from their native habitat in high-altitude lakes in Central Asia.
During the annual waterfowl count held on February 1 and 2 by the field staff of the Department, out of the total 1.08 lakh birds, water dependent migratory birds were 101,431 of 51 species and water dependent resident birds were 6,433 of 29 species. 714 birds of 16 other species were also recorded at Pong Dam Lake.
In January 2020 annual census exercise, 1,04,032 migratory waterfowls of 60 species, 10,377 resident water birds of 30 species and 1,292 birds of 24 other local species were recorded.
This year, the number of Bar-Headed Goose, an endangered migratory bird species, stood at 40,570.
During census 2020, the Pong Lake had recorded an increase by 68 percent in the number of Bar-Headed Goose at 49,496 as compared to 29,443 in the 2018-19.
However, their number has declined this year as Bar-Headed Goose died in maximum numbers at Pong Lake due to bird flu. Among 5006 migratory birds of 38 species that have died till now due to the virus, 90 percent fatalities have been reported among Bar-Headed Goose.
The other species which have recorded higher population count at Pong during this year included Eurasian Coot (24,163), Northern Pintail (12,702), Common Teal (8,444), Little Cormorant (3,649), Great Cormorant (3,410), Grey Lag Goose (2,297), Northern Shoveler (2,275) and Common Pochard (2,138).
Species namely Red Necked Grebe, Great Bittern, Lesser White-Fronted Goose, Red Crested Pochard, Ferruginous Pochard, Pied Avocet, Northern Lapwing, Peregrine Falcon among others were also spotted at the waterbody.
One Bar-headed Goose and one Grey Lag Goose were spotted with metal rings, which were placed on their legs by the staff of the Wildlife wing in the previous years with an aim to collect information on bird’s migratory patterns, survival rates and to monitor if any particular species show signs of decline.
The census exercise was conducted by Wildlife wing by deploying 57 staff members in 26 sections of the Pong wetland.
Commenting on the waterfowl count, Forest Minister Rakesh Pathania said that the results of the annual water bird count conducted during this year shows that the habitat of migratory and resident water birds has gradually improved in the state due to effective and timely interventions.
Rahul Rohane, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Wildlife Division, Hamirpur while talking to The Pioneer said that the total population of birds as well as number of species counted this year are marginally less as compared to last year due to the impact of avian influenza outbreak at the Pong wetland. 5006 migratory birds have died till now at the Pong Dam Lake due to the bird flu.
He said that earlier in mid-December, around 56000 migratory birds of more than 50 species were recorded and the number has increased to 101,431 birds of 51 species in February 2021.
The staff of Wildlife wing had conducted the annual count this time and wildlife experts from the state or outside were not involved due to COVID-19 pandemic and avian influenza, the DFO said.
The situation is under control now as a result of continuing containment measures being taken in the Pong Dam Lake. But the tourism related activities are still banned there, he added.
Notably, the bird flu has been reported for the first time at Pong Lake, which hosts more than one lakh winged guests every winter season.