Wetlands in China see over 550,000 migratory birds
Over 550,000 migratory birds have been spotted this spring in the four wetland nature reserves in China's Tianjin Municipality, local authorities said.
Over 550,000 migratory birds have been spotted this spring in the four wetland nature reserves in China's Tianjin Municipality, local authorities said.
The annual bird census, undertaken in the brackish water lagoon yesterday, put the count to 10,93,049 migratory birds of 105 different species. There has been an increase of 56,829 birds this time. Last year, 10, 36, 220 birds of 107 species were sighted.
The birds fly thousands of miles to reach Bhitarakanika to escape the harsh winter in the Himalayan region. They would stay there for about four months before flying back to where they come from.
The winged guests generally fly in from Tibet, China, Mangolia, eastern parts of Europe and Siberia. Many of these also come from Ladakh. Rasik Bill, Mahananda Barrage, Gazoldoba and Nararthali are some of the common places where thousands of migratory fowls of different species normally come in during the first or second week of December every year to spend the winter.
The Geese and ducks were sighted at the highest number of 59,286 followed by Gulls, terns, and skimmer numbering 34,353.
. Different species of migratory birds like the Cormorants, Open-Billstork, Egret, Heron and Night-heron turn up in the sanctuary every year.
The report was released in Gandhinagar on sidelines of the 13th Conference of Parties to the Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP 13)
SPJS students visit Bengals Santragachi Jheel for a closer look at migratory birds during winter.
Increase in number of migratory birds in the lake is attributed due to the safety measures taken by the wildlife authorities and improvement of the habitat in the lake, said the DFO.
Officials said they suspect water contamination as one of the reasons for the deaths but were awaiting viscera test reports.
