The numbers and diversity of the bird population coming to Delhi in the winter months have registered a fall according to a report released by the Asian Water bird Census.
AWC is the largest water bird census conducted by the Wetlands International South Asia in coordination with State coordinators to record the status of important wetlands and water birds diversity.
“Due to global climate change there has been an adverse impact on migration trends of long distant migratory birds with us. We have observed that winter migration is now late, there is arrival of less bird diversity in lesser number everywhere in the country,” said T. K. Roy, ecologist, Delhi State Coordinator, Wetlands International South Asia.
He noted that there earlier existed several natural wetlands for water birds in Delhi, most of which have now vanished. They are drying up due to rapid urbanisation and climate change, which is causing reduced rainfall.
This has impacted even Najafgarh Drain and Jheel, the longest sewage drain of Delhi which became an alternative wetland habitat for resident water birds and which also hosts a large number of exotic migratory water birds from Central Asia, North Asia and Siberia. “Even Najafgarh Jheel is now drying up due to less rainfall during last monsoon and rapid urbanisation i.e. construction activities in the vicinity of the wetland, surrounding cultivation and human interference,” noted Mr. Roy.
Among the resident water birds which were spotted here this season were black-winged stilt, grey heron, red-naped ibis, glossy ibis, Eurasian thick-knee and painted stork. The migratory species spotted were greater flamingo, Eurasian spoonbill, Eurasian coot and greater-spotted eagle.
