Fewer birds at Okhla sanctuary but highest diversity in three years
NOIDA: Following the trend set last year, the bird population at Noida’s only eco-sensitive zone, the Okhla Bird Sanctuary, dropped this year. On a positive note, the diversity of species had increased to the highest in three years.
The Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) 2021 was conducted by the Wetlands International South Asia and the divisional forest department Gautam Budh Nagar. Fifteen volunteers and forest department officials counted 8,068 birds of total 73 species of water birds, of which 27 were resident and local migratory species and 46 migratory species.
The census also included 8 species of IUCN Red-listed threaten birds – Black-headed Ibis (Indian resident), Blacktailed Godwit (Winter migratory from Central Asia), Common Pochard (Winter migratory from Central Asia), Painted Stork (Indian resident species), Greater Spotted Eagle (Winter migratory migrates from Central Asia), Oriental Darter (Resident), River Lapwing (Resident), Ferruginous Duck (Winter migratory from Central Asia).
According to the ecologists, the drop in population numbers was primarily owning to poor habitat health.
“Due to global climate change impact like delayed winter, slow migration and fewer winter migratory water birds has been recorded almost everywhere in northern India. Okhla, one of the 467 important birding area (IBA) Sites in India used to be rich habitat for birdlife diversity but degrading due to urban development and biotic pressure,” said TK Roy, ecologist and conservationist, AWC.
Pointing out some interesting and among uncommon sightings, Roy named -- Common Shelduck ( total five spotted, migrates from Central Asia), Mallard ( three spotted, migrates from Central Asia) and Great Crested Grebe ( seven spotted, migrates from Central and East Asia).
Meanwhile, the forest department stated that the census was held with the protocols of bird flu – like wearing protective gears, etc. “Since there had been a bird flu alerts, so there were some protocols at place. However, we still went ahead with the census as it would help us take a stock of ground reality since the birds are indicator of the habitat health. We are committed to develop better habitat and manage our wetlands so that the population and species diversity increases,” said Pramod Kumar Srivastava, divisional forest officer.