Number of migratory birds increase in Santragachi Jheel - whistling ducks sighted

On a rough estimate, so far more than 6000 migratory birds have arrived in the Santragachi Jheel and, it appears that the number may cross 8000 before the end of the month. This is the indication from a migratory bird census and a bird watching programme, that has ended. These were organised at the jheel last week.
The sighting of the fulvous whistling duck is considered to be irregular and it made an appearance this year bringing more and more bird enthusiasts to the lake.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 9 June 2017.

The annual bird watching has become a regular affair at the lake and it began a little over a decade back - over the years, it has become extremely popular among birdwatchers and environment activists. The fulvous whistling duck made its appearance for the first time on the day of Christmas, breeds in tropical regions of Mexico and South America, the West Indies and sub-Saharan Africa and is rarely spotted anywhere in India. The sighting started with just a pair and the number grew in the past one week.
The census is organized every year and a species-wise classification is released to the district authorities and the state forest department at the end of the event. This year, a large number of telescopes and binoculars were made available for enthusiasts to watch the winged visitors, along with live demonstration from experts.


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Migratory birds from Siberia, Australia and Eurasia arrive at Santragachi Jheel

The Santragachi jheel has been cleaned of water hyacinth and other major pollutants and, as a result, hundreds of migratory birds have begun to arrive from faraway places like Siberia, Australia and Eurasia for their regular "winter break".
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 18 December 2016.

Observers feel that this year, the visitors have touched down earlier than other years - thanks to a thorough clean-up of the 13,75,000-sq ft water body which is almost adjacent to the Santragachi railway station. The cleaning move was prompted by a Green Tribunal order that had been passed at the beginning of the year. It had ordered the Howrah Municipal Corporation and the state forest department to keep the jheel clean through the year.
The regular visitors are usually the lesser whistling duck (south east Asia), common teal (Eurasia), baikal teal (Russia) and cotton pygmy goose (south east asia).
This year, new arrivals include rare species of northern pintail (Europe and North America), gadwal (Europe, Eurasia and North America) and Firruginous pochard (Eurasia).
Bird watchers and photographers are making a beeline for Santragachi and the annual bird counting program would be held on January 7 and 8.


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