By the first week of October, the flocks of migratory birds used to descend on wetlands across the northern region every year. The trend, however, is now altering with many migratory birds delaying their winter sojourn, due to much hotter and humid climatic conditions in October.
This year, the migratory birds from far flung areas of Siberia and Central Asia have started descending on the wetland of Haryana and Himachal but the number of species is lesser as compared to last year. On the other hand, the prominent wetlands in neighboring Punjab have not yet recorded the arrival of any species of migratory birds.
In the past few years, the late arrival of winged guests has become a major concern for environmentalists and avian aficionados. The avian experts believe that the increasing temperature levels continue to alter the annual bird migration patterns.
As per the data compiled by TK Roy, ecologist and Asia Waterbird Census (AWC) Delhi state-coordinator, less number of migratory birds have been reported at prominent wetlands in Himachal and Haryana by the first week of October this year.
In Himachal Pradesh’s Pong Dam wetland, around 12 species of migratory birds have arrived in less numbers as compared to October 2019, when more than 20 species with more numbers had reached the water body.
The species of migratory birds that have arrived at the Pong Dam Lake till now included Wood Sandpiper, Common Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Eurasian Coot, Common Teal, Ferruginous Duck, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Garganey, Gadwal,Common Greenshank and Wiskered Tern.
In Haryana’s Sultanpur National Park, about 13 species of winter migratory water birds have arrived in lesser numbers as compared to more than 19 species recorded during the same time period last year. Some of the species that have descended on the wetland in the national park this year included Wood Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Common Redshank, Common Teal, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Eurasian Coot, Ferruginous Duck, Eurasian Wigeon and Temminck's Stint.
At Ranjit Sagar Dam and Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary in Punjab, arrival of winter migratory bird species have not been reported so far whereas more than eight species were recorded in the state by this time of the year.
“Warm and humid climatic conditions in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal in the month of October remains the major factor leading to the delay in arrival of migratory birds here,” said TK Roy, while talking to The Pioneer.
“The water bodies in Himachal and Haryana have reported arrival of migratory birds by the first week of October this year, albeit, the number is very less as compared to the last year,” he said.
Roy said, “In the last few years, it has been observed that the prolonged summer is altering the annual migration of birds.
Delayed arrival and early de-migration of migratory birds have been witnessed at prominent water bodies in the region.”
Notably, escaping cold biting conditions in their areas, and braving the high snow-laden peaks of Himalayas, more than lakhs of migratory birds reach India every year for their winter sojourn.