KL Report
Srinagar
As per the estimates of wildlife department more than 5 Lakh migratory birds are presently available in Kashmir and by the February 15 more than 7 lakh migratory birds are expected to come in Valley, says Rouf Zargar, Wild Life warden Kashmir.
It is estimated that there are 400,000 migratory birds in the Shallabugh bird reserve, 100,000 in Hokarsar and around 10,000 in the Hygam bird reserve, according to figures available with the wildlife protection department. “A majority of greylag geese come here in February. Some of the more endangered bird species like cotton teals, tufted ducks and Brahminy ducks have not arrived yet and we are expecting them in February”, said Muhammad Maqbool Baba wildlife warden (wetland Kashmir).
But this year as the temperature remained below minus degrees the water bodies, reserves in valley remained frozen and the flocks of geese, mallards, teals, gadwalls and pochards left and started looking for alternate feeding grounds in low water bodies of Punjab, Pakistan. “Thousands of greylag geese, mallards, teals, pochards, wigeons, shovellers, gadwalls and coots can be seen leaving the Hokarsar, Mirgund, Hygam and Shallabugh bird reserves in the evenings”, said an another official in Wildlife.
“Traditional bird reserves like Hokarsar, Hygam, Mirgund and Shallabugh are basically shallow water bodies. These are just two to four feet deep and because of the winter chill, the bird reserves freeze quickly,” said Zargar and added that by mid February more migratory birds will be in valley as the birds first assemble in valley and then leave for their countries.
For natural feeding after the reserves remain frozen, Wullar Lake is one famous feeding destination for the migratory birds these days.
“Larger ones among the birds like the geese prefer nocturnal feeding in Wullar Lake. The sheer vastness of the lake and abundant supply of water chestnuts provide natural feeding grounds to these birds”, Baba said.
