Waterbirds census begins across 23 Valley wetlands

Tribune News Service

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Srinagar, February 16

The state government has started the census of birds in 23 wetlands across Kashmir as the number of migratory birds is decreasing in the Valley.

The Department of Wildlife Protection, in collaboration with a group of experts, students and volunteers started the ‘Asian Waterbird Census, 2016’ today from Hokersar wetland on the outskirts of Srinagar.

“In connection with the International Waterbird census and Asian Waterbird census 2016, the Department of Wildlife Protection today organised a programme at Hokersar to count birds,” a government spokesperson said.

Participants from different walks of life, including officials and students, joined in to count birds in 23 wetlands of the Kashmir Valley, he said.

“The main function was held at Hokersar where different teams will carry out the counting process,” he said.

Officials said every year, thousands of volunteers across Asia visited wetlands and counted waterbirds for population estimation, which includes migratory and resident birds. The event was called the ‘Asian Waterbird census’, which is part of a global waterbird progarmme, the International Waterbird Census (IWC), coordinated by Wetlands International, Netherlands.

Earlier in the day, an orientation session for the participants was held at Hokersar where the participants were given first- hand knowledge of the methodology to be adopted.

Chief Wildlife Warden Deepak Khanna said the department was organising the event in the state in all most all the important wetlands, including Hokersar, Shallabugh, Wullar, Dal, Anchar, Haigam and Chattlum.