Birds that have left their seasonal habitat in the national Capital, have been sighted again much to the delight of bird watchers and ecologists. They say return of these winged guests in the wetlands of national Capital is a good precursor for Delhi ecological state. The environment scientists say that birds’ population has also increased this year. On the “Big Bird Day”, the rare species — Orange Headed Thrush and Ferruginous Pochard — were sighted by the ornithologists.
According to an ecologist, the sighting of these two species is sign of “vocalisation”, it means — birds are finding Delhi a good place in ecological parlance for breeding. Hundreds of different bird species were spotted at Yamuna Bio Diversity Park, (YDP), Kamla Nagar Ridge area and Tuglukabad Bio Diversity Park (TDP).
Dr Fiayaz Khudsar, an ecologist with the Delhi University, said, “Two hours of bird watching in different wetlands of the city have given a good response. Approximately, 103 different species were sighted in YBP whereas at ridge area the species were 55 and in Tuglukabad, the number was 26.”
Ornithologists and environmentalists are delighted that about 184 different species of birds from Russia, Europe and Central Asia have arrived in Capital this year.
According to a report, this year bird has population is gone up considerably. “In 2016, nearly 57 bird species had thronged Kamla Nehru ridge while 91 were sighted in YBP. In 2015, the number was 109 and in 2013, it was 100,” said Dr Khudsar who leads the YDP. This has been mentioned in his Big Bird Day report.
“Due to ecological balance, birds have landed here. Besides favourable climate conditions, birds need aquatic vegetation and a good habitat for their survival and nesting,” said Sameer, an ornithologist of YDP.
While explaining about the characteristics of Orange Headed Thrush, Sameer said this bird is common in well-wooded areas of the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. “The orange-headed thrush is omnivorous, eating a wide range of insects, earthworms and fruit. It nests in trees but does not form flocks,” he said. “The male of this small thrush has uniform grey upperparts, and an orange head and underparts. The females and young birds have browner upperparts,” he said further.
When asked how an increase in the bird population is a good sign of ecological balance, Khudsar explained that the mass arrival of migratory and native birds on any wetland describes the condition of the habitat of that particular area. “If habitat has less noise pollution and favourable for the required breeding environment, the birds will come and stay for long,” he said.
The aquatic vegetation is another important factor as that provides food to the winged species. “Hydrilla, potamojiton and valucineria are the natural vegetations in the YDP. They are favourable for these migratory birds. Due to good aquatic vegetation, 18 species of fish are found in this wetland and the presence of special birds is the sign of healthy aquatic vegetation,” Dr Khudsar said.
The ecologist said with the fencing of native trees, Delhi University’s environment department and the Delhi Development Authority have managed to curb noise pollution from the birds’ habitat.
“In ecological perspective, the plantation of trees such as; Shesham, Babool and Bargad has helped a lot in attracting these birds,” said Sameer, an avid bird watcher too.
These trees have the capabilities to absorb the sound pollution, for example; traffic noise. “A total of 103 species of birds make wetlands of YBP as their permanent home and reproduce. Some bird species include orange headed thrush, Red Crested Pochard and Forruginous Pochard, white tail,” Sameer added.