Two-day annual bird census begins at Pong Wetland today

The Wildlife Wing of the state forest department is set to conduct a two-day annual bird census at Pong Wetland in Kangra district. The census, scheduled for Saturday, will be carried out by 25 teams comprising 125 bird experts and forest department employees.

Hamirpur Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife) Reginald Royston, who is overseeing the exercise, said the department has collaborated with NGOs and institutions like the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Chandigarh Bird Club, Wildlife Institute of India and prominent bird enthusiasts. For the first time, students from Central University, Kangra, are also participating.

To ensure a systematic count, the wetland has been divided into 25 sections, with teams assigned accordingly. The Pong Wetland, a Ramsar site, serves as a crucial wintering destination for migratory birds from Tibet, Central Asia, Russia, and Siberia.

Last year, the census recorded 1,17,022 birds from 198 species, including 75,490 migratory water-dependent birds from 48 species and 8,065 water-dependent birds from 37 species. However, experts fear a decline in numbers this year due to dry conditions, which may prevent birds from leaving their native habitats for warmer regions.