Chandigarh crafts floating islands for migratory birds at Sukhna

Dushyant Singh Pundir

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 17

To perch on during their winter sojourn, the Department of Forests and Wildlife, UT, has crafted floating islands for migratory birds at Sukhna Lake.

Debendra Dalai, Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden, UT, said five floating islands had been created for the winged guests to bask, rest and sleep during their winter journey in the lake.

Winged guests at lake

As the mercury dipped further, winged guests from Siberia have started arriving at Sukhna Lake. Debendra Dalai, Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden, UT, said bar-headed geese, ruddy shelduck, common pochard, common coot, grey heron, mallard, pintail duck, etc..., all common species, have arrived at the lake.

On an experimental basis, a bamboo raft was pushed into the lake last year, he said, adding that as a large number of birds used that raft, they had decided to increase the number of such rafts to five this year. Due to the depth of water, birds need mudflats for resting and in the absence of such facility, they had decided to create artificial islands for the birds, he said. These rafts were secured for the birds from all points of view, he said.

As the mercury dipped further, winged guests from Siberia have started arriving at Sukhna Lake.

Birders have been looking forward to have a glimpse of bar-headed geese and other migratory birds from Siberia that reached the lake after flying over the mighty Himalayas.

Dalai said bar-headed geese, ruddy shelduck, common pochard, common coot, grey heron, mallard, pintail duck, etc..., all common species, have arrived at the lake.

The arrival of migratory birds was quite encouraging as a large number of birds had reached the lake this time, he said. More birds would arrive in the coming weeks and would stay here till March.

However, during a survey conduct last month, the Bird Club had identified 34 species of waterfowl in Sukhna Lake and the adjoining areas. A total of 429 waterfowls were spotted during the survey conducted by members of the club.

During the survey, a maximum of 141 birds of the most common species of ruddy shelduck were spotted. Other migratory birds spotted included black-winged stilt (23), Eurasian coot (27), great cormorant (47), Indian spot-billed duck (40) and Northern pintail (23). However, only one bird each of white-breasted waterhen, white-browed wagtail, pied kingfisher, citrine wagtail and common kingfisher were spotted during the survey, which is conducted every year by the club on November 12, the birth anniversary of Dr Salim Ali, an ornithologist.

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