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SUKHNA Lake is thronged by a number of feathered guests from Central Asia and Europe every year. It is a visual delight for visitors to the lake. Similarly, the areas around Chandigarh also witnessed migration. Though the number of avian species visiting the lake is not very large yet their presence provides a good opportunity for bird lovers to study their behavioural patterns. Migration can be defined as the predictable seasonal and regular movement of species between their breeding and non-breeding areas. These avian species inhabit the areas of Russia, Central Asian Republics of Kazaksthan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenisthan, Azerbaijan, Iran and Mongolia. These are their breeding places and heavy snowfall every winter results into the freezing of lakes, thereby coercing these birds to look for greener pastures for survival. These birds then travel thousands of kilometres to reach their winter homes. These birds use the Central Asian-South Asian flyway, a name given to the route of migration by the ornithologists. The writer has been observing this seasonal movement of birds to the lake for the last five to six years. About one month back there were approximately 400-500 birds at the lake. Their number increased to 4000-5000 birds at the end of this week. The number of spotbills has decreased to just few in sharp contrast to hundreds seen two to three years back. A similar pattern is seen in case of mallards. The number of pairs is very low this year. This decline is compensated by the increased number of other species. A healthy increase can be seen in the number of Brahmy ducks. This species adds a new orange hue in the numerous colours of the lake. The number of geese is approximately a hundred and their number may further increase till the end of the month when the returning flocks may stop for a short stay at lake. Fortunately, the number of shovellers, red-crested pochards, coots, common pochards, egrets is healthy. Pairs of shovellers can be observed across the lake and their number may be around 700-800. The writer came across a single snakebird this year. These visiting birds inhabit the interiors of lake where a large number of water channels are formed due to the decline of the water level. Besides these migrants, there are some resident species, among which stilts are the leaders. The number of these birds have increased substantially. Sometimes open-billed storks visit the lake. Egrets, cormorants and the grey heron have made the lake as their permanent home. A little movement behind the bushes makes these birds flee towards safety. A day spent at the lake will rejuvenate the body as well as mind. Adequate protection should
be provided to the fragile ecosystem of this waterbody so that it keeps
on attracting avian life. |
