Uplifting: Migratory birds are arriving in larger numbers in Punjab’s wetlands

It’s a much-anticipated ritual at Punjab’s wetlands that never fails to spring a surprise. Every year, the Punjab Wildlife Department documents sightings of migratory birds from as far away as Central Asia and Africa. As climate change and global warming affect wildlife patterns, careful consideration is given to the absence and presence of the avian guests. This time around, it has been a productive and uplifting outing for the department staff, ornithologists, bird-watchers and enthusiasts alike. Much to their relief and delight, the migratory birds, including several rare ones, have come in swarms.

According to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, Punjab has 1,143 mapped wetlands, with an area of roughly around 90,000 hectares. There are 89 Ramsar sites in India; it ranks third globally in the number of such sites.

Punjab’s prominence on the world wildlife map got a boost in 2020 when three more wetlands were accorded the international Ramsar tag. These sites are recognised as being of significant value not only for the country or the countries in which they are located, but for humanity as a whole. (There are currently more than 2,500 Ramsar sites around the world, covering over 2.5 million square kilometres, an area larger than Mexico).

Punjab already had three Ramsar sites — Harike, which falls in Kapurthala, Ferozepur and Tarn Taran districts; Kanjli in Kapurthala district; and Ropar. To the list were added the Keshopur community reserve, Beas conservation reserve and Nangal wildlife sanctuary, taking the number to six.

Dharminder Sharma, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and head of the Forest Force, says spotting raptors like the Red-headed Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Eurasian Hobby and Eastern Imperial Eagle at Harike and Keshopur-Miani shows that the Punjab wetlands continue to attract birds from far-off areas. “It indicates that our wetlands have a good prey base for these raptors. The preservation of wildlife, especially migratory birds, remains the top priority of the department,” he adds. “Birds from as far away as Siberia have turned up, which is a rare phenomenon.”

Gitanjali Kanwar, Senior Coordinator, Aquatic Biodiversity, World Wildlife Fund-India, says the turnout of water birds in Punjab’s wetlands continues to be “decently good” despite challenges at the global level. “Flocks of rare birds like Northern Lapwing and Black-tailed Godwit were sighted at Harike. Species like Jerdon’s Babler, Rufous-vented Prinia and Short-eared Owls have also been spotted,” she adds.

“There’s been a marginal increase in the number of water birds (resident and migratory) in Punjab’s wetlands. The winter season has been very brief this year and rare waterbirds and species of high conservation significance have been spotted. These include the flamingos in Harike, flocks of Northern Lapwing and raptors like Steppe and Eastern Imperial Eagle in Keshopur-Miani and Shalapattan wetlands. The Nangal wetland, like every year, had Black-necked Grebes,” says Kanwar.

Punjab Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Satender Sagar claims the recent sighting of the Bar-headed Goose is a welcome sign for the state’s wetlands as this goose species breeds in Central Asia in colonies of thousands near mountain lakes and during winter in South Asia. “The unique thing about this bird is that it flies very high, and even crosses the Himalayas to visit Punjab, flying over difficult terrains and extreme altitudes,” says Sagar, excited about the frequent sightings at Punjab wetlands.

Amid the positive news, a note of caution comes from Jaskaran Sandhu, former member of the Punjab State Board for Wildlife. “Global warming is changing weather patterns and affecting bird migration. Delayed winter, pollution and shrinking water bodies are all affecting migration of birds across the globe. It’s a challenge we must never lose sight of,” he says.

“Many bird species migrate in order to survive. However, migration is a perilous journey. Only a small number of birds are actually threatened by natural events while human activities are the source for most dangers,” says Maj AP Singh (retd), another former member of the Punjab State Board for Wildlife. An avid bird-watcher, with an experience of more than 40 years, he adds that the loss of habitats due to pollution or encroachment for settlement, agriculture, grazing, etc, is the main threat migratory birds face. “They are dependent on finding suitable breeding and wintering grounds as well as stopover sites, along their flyways, where they can rest and feed. The loss of any of these sites during their annual cycle could have a dramatic impact on the birds’ chances of survival. Poaching remains another threat.”

As per the initial sightings by the Wildlife Department and the World Wildlife Fund, the migratory birds that have been spotted include the Spot-billed Duck, Ruddy Shelduck, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Comb Duck, Coot, Dabchick, Northern Shoveler, Lesser Whistling Duck, Domicile Crane, Greater Flamingo, Ferruginous Pochard, Peregrine Falcon, Long-eared Owl, Common Pochard, Woolly-necked Stork, Eurasian Coot, Gadwal, Greylag Geese, Little Cormorant, Pied Avocet, Great Cormorant, Common Teal, Black-tailed Godwit, Steppe Gull and Brown-headed Gull.

Records from Harike show sightings of Bonelli’s Eagle, Hen Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, Red-headed Falcon, Cotton Pygmy Goose, Northern Lapwing and Greater-crested Grebe.

May 10 is World Migratory Bird Day, but it’s a good time to remember UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ message: “As they travel the globe, migratory birds lift our spirits and remind us of nature, connecting people, ecosystems and nations.” And his terse reminder: “Our continued encroachment on nature and the destruction of vital habitats are putting many migratory birds at risk of extinction.”

Any positive development thus is a moment to cherish, and also to reflect. Protecting the habitats of migratory birds is of critical importance.

Punjab’s wetlands

Keshopur-Miani community reserve in Gurdaspur, spread over 343.9 hectares (ha), is a natural wetland. It is the only habitat for Sarus and common cranes in the state.

Beas conservation reserve, spread over a 185-km stretch of the Beas river starting from Talwara to Harike headworks, covers seven districts — Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran and Ferozepur. It is the only place in the country that hosts the Indus River Dolphins.

The man-made wetland of Nangal wildlife sanctuary, with an area of 116 ha, came into existence as a result of the Bhakra-Nangal project in 1961. The surrounding forests are located in the highly eco-sensitive Shivalik foothills.

Recent census

In Harike, 89 bird species were recorded with a total count of 55,059 birds, up from 50,529 birds seen in 2024.

In Kanjli wetland, 20 species and 443 birds were recorded this year as compared to 23 species and 669 birds in 2024.

In Keshopur, 78 species with 13,676 birds have been recorded this year as compared to 10,857 birds of 66 species in 2024.

The Ramsar title

A Ramsar site is a wetland designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. The Convention on Wetlands, known as the Ramsar Convention, is an intergovernmental environmental treaty established in 1971 by UNESCO, which came into force in 1975. It is named after the city of Ramsar in Iran, where the convention was signed.