Winged visitor count down 67% at Sukhna Lake

The arrival of migratory birds to Sukhna Lake and its surrounding areas has dropped substantially, with nearly 67 per cent fewer avian guests being spotted so far this year.

During a recent survey, the Chandigarh Bird Club identified 26 species of migratory birds and spotted 232 birds. However, the club had identified 31species and sighted 705 birds during the same period in November last year.

Of these migratory birds, the most common species was the ruddy shelduck with 32 sightings, followed by 28 sightings of gadwall, 26 of Indian spot-billed duck, 23 of black-crowned night heron, 11 of great cormorant.

The Club conducts annual surveys at Sukhna Lake to commemorate the Birdman of India, Dr Salim Ali, on his birth anniversary, which happens to coincide with the arrival of migrating waterfowl.

Rima Dhillon, club president, said, “There were hardly any birds to be seen on the water.”

“Birds migrate when it gets too cold in their breeding grounds in the Tundra regions depleting food sources. If food can still be found in plenty, then the birds delay their migratory journey. However, if the areas they have been frequenting traditionally are degraded, they will be forced to divert to other places,” she added.

Over the course of the survey, only eight Eurasian moorhen, seven red-wattled lapwing, Indian pond-heron and grey heron each, six northern shoveller and little cormorant each, four white-throated kingfisher and white wagtail each, three grey-headed swamphen, purple heron and oriental darter each, two green sandpiper and little egret each were spotted.

Besides, a solitary great egret, a grey wagtail, a woolly-necked stork, a common kingfisher and a stork-billed kingfisher were also found at Sukhna.

Dhillon said the elusive stork-billed kingfisher was a single bird resident at the location and has been reported since 2017. She added that while it was too early, the club members hoped to see the arrival of more birds of each species as the temperatures drop further.

Another birder attributed the drop in numbers to global warming and possible degradation of habitat.