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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Second UP International Bird Festival sees 36000 participants - hopeful for a Guinness Record

The second UP International Bird Festival sees 36000 participants and UP is hopeful of bagging a Guinness Record. It has already got to its credit one Guinness Record for this year for planting maximum trees in one go across the state.
It now wants another one for its bird watching activity that was carried out simultaneously at 452 locations in which over 36,000 persons participated.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 2 December 2016.

It seems a total of more than 1.9 lakh birds were spotted in the span of one day. As per forest officials, no such attempt was ever made in the past where such a large number of people participated in such a coordinated event. Hence, it would apply to the Guinness Book of World Records for this event.
It may be recalled that the UP government has recently been awarded Guinness record of planting 5 crore saplings in 24 hours in July 2016.
This is the second edition of the UP Bird Festival and it is being organized between December 2 and 4 at Chambal safari Lodge in Bah located some 80-Km from Agra. There are around 45 international foreign bird watchers from 26 countries apart from 100 Indian experts who are participating in the event.


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Decline in arrival of migratory birds in Hunasinkere tank in Hassan

Hundreds of migratory birds of varied species have arrived at the Hunasinkere tank in Hassan, but there is a decline in their numbers. These birds fly from far off places to Hunasinkere in November every year and feed on the fish in the tank - but, their numbers are on the decline.
The arrivals include pelicans, painted storks, spoon-billed storks, purple moorhen and grey hornbills.
This has been reported in thehindu.com dated 29 November 2016.

AS a birdwatcher has revealed - spoon-billed storks are there in good numbers but there is a steep decline among ducks, purple moorhen, jacana and a few others.
Various factors could have contributed to this. Over the years the water level in the tank has come down because of decrease in rainfall. Moreover, there are more people living closer to the tank now. This reduces the space for trees on the bank. Consequently, less trees mean less of the birds.
Another aspect is that many local farmers pumping water from the lake to their land. Many private agencies take the water from the tank for construction work. Obviously, such activities disturb the birds and they shift to other locations.


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Dead fish surface in the Hebbal Lake in Bengaluru

Bengaluru is known as the Garden City and the Silicon Valley of India but, it is also the city where dead fish surface in hundreds in lakes like the Hebbal Lake and, earlier, in Ulsoor lake. The Hebbal Lake is spread over an area of 150-odd acres in north Bengaluru and is quite popular with bird watchers. But, now it is the sight of dead fish.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 31 May 2016.

In the opinion of an environmentalist who visited the spot, the incident is the result of direct flow of sewage into the waterbody. These polluted water bodies have resulted in several instances of fish being killed in recent months. It seems residents who live in the vicinity of Hebbal Lake have repeatedly complained about a stormwater drain that is polluting the water body but, the civic authorities have ignored them. There is an unbearable stench in the area and the flow of sewage into the lake is also there for all to see.
Bengaluru is the city where a sizeable population have settled down after being in the USA for years pursuing their careers - they need to raise their voices in protest to the apathy of the authorities.


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The population of baya weaver birds had dwindled after the super cyclone of October 1999 when hundreds of trees were uprooted and thousands of nests were destroyed but, the birds are now returning to the Ganjam district of Odisha and the birdwatchers are happy.
A group of environmentalists had been keeping watch on these baya weaver birds since 2007. They have intimated that in 2012, that is just one year before Phailin, the number of weaver birds in the district had been around 1,500. Subsequently, after the 2013 cyclone, the number of their nests came down by 80 per cent. Last year, there were 200 nests spotted and this year it has doubled to 400.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 5 May 2016.

The locations where these birds have been spotted are in six places of the district - Lunguri village in Malagada panchayat, Borigaon in Huma panchayat, Khatiakuda and Kundaput under Palibandha panchayat, Damodarpur and Ganjam railway station in the Ganjam notified area council.
In Lunguri village, there are 40 nests in a palm tree and 31 nests in another, both near a pond. Near Ganjam railway station, there are more than 100 nests in two trees, including four coconut trees and three dates trees, near a canal.
The forest department has initiated steps to introduce new conservation strategies in Ganjam to preserve the baya weaver birds apart from black bucks, peacocks and other species.


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