EFFLUENTS POSE THREAT TO BIRDS IN 6 WETLANDS, STUDY REVEALS

MUMBAI: Water pollution from agricultural runoff, effluents, and sewage pose a consistent and serious threat to six key wetlands in Maharashtra where as many as 112 species of waterbirds from 18 families have been found, according to a study conducted by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS).

The six inland wetlands which are part of the Central Asian Flyway (CAF) for the study conducted between October 2021 and April 2022 were Nandur Madhmeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in Nashik (Ramsar Site), Jayakwadi Bird Sanctuary in Aurangabad, Gangapur Dam in Nashik, Ujjani Dam in Solapur, Hatnur Dam in Jalgaon, and Visapur Dam in Ahmednagar. The birds found in these six wetlands are near-threatened Black-tailed godwit, Greater Flamingo, Ferruginous Duck, Common Pochard, Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint.

For migrating birds travelling via the CAF, Maharashtra is home to both natural and manmade wetlands that serve as staging places and wintering grounds. Flyways are utilised by birds to reach breeding, stopover, and wintering grounds.

The Convention on Migratory Species has designated 9 migratory flyways. One of them is the CAF, which covers migratory bird routes via 30 nations, with India constituting the majority of those routes. “Protecting these wetlands will help us achieve our sustainable development goals,” said Virendra Tiwari, additional principal chief conservator of forest, Maharashtra Mangrove Cell and executive director, Mangrove Foundation.

PHOTO Greater Flamingo and Brownheaded Gulls at Jayakwadi Bird Sanctuary, Aurangabad.HT