Migratory birds spotted at Gobind Sagar reservoir

Rajesh Sharma

Una, January 7

Three migratory birds species have been spotted by the district Forest Department along the banks of Gobind Sagar reservoir in Una district. These include bar-headed geese, black stork and painted stork.

Divisional Forest Officer Yashu Deep Singh said the department had organised a survey along the reservoir on December 26. Consequently, he said three different species of migratory birds were sighted by the teams of the Forest Department.

The bar-headed geese, which spend the summer season near high-altitude lakes in Kazakhstan, Tibet, Mongolia and Russia, cross the Himalayas and come down to southern Asia, including India during winters. Forest Department sources said the bird, which is about 28 to 30 inches long, is one of the highest flying birds, whose body has been physiologically and biochemically adapted to endure an atmosphere having 10 per cent oxygen as compared to that prevailing at the sea level.

As regards the black stork, the bird, measuring 37 to 39 inches, migrates to south Asia, south of the Himalayas up to North East India. The painted stork, the biggest of the three, is around 59 to 63 inches in size and migrates during winters to the Indus River system.

The DFO said forest guards had been directed to create awareness among the locals regarding the importance of conservation and preservation of migratory birds and their habitats along the wetland. Cautioning against poaching of these birds, Yashu Deep Singh said this attracted heavy punishment under the Wild Life Protection Act. He also called upon the residents not to litter waste or let loose domestic cats or dogs in places where these birds had been spotted.