High temp, less snow impact bird migration to Pong Dam Lake

High temperatures and less snowfall in higher reaches of the Himalayas has impacted the annual migration of birds to the Pong Dam Lake in Kangra district. The Pong Dam Lake, known as the Ramsar International Wetland, receives the highest number of migratory birds in the country.

This lake usually received over one lakh migratory birds every year. However, the number of such birds coming to the lake has reduced steadily over the years. Last year, about 83,555 birds were recorded in the lake while this year, this number may remain low, say sources. Usually, the migration of birds to the Pong Lake started in November and December but this year, it has been very slow.

Divisional Forest Officer DS Dadwal has documented migratory birds for the past many years and has also written a book on them. He says that high temperatures and less snowfall in the upper reaches of the Himalayas can be one of the reasons for the slow or delayed migration of birds to the lake. He adds that generally birds like Bar Headed Geese migrate to the Pong Lake when lakes in the higher reaches and areas like Siberia freeze and there is a scarcity of food there. It seems that the lakes in high mountains have not frozen and there is no scarcity of food there due to which the annual migration of birds has not started. However, the matter need further scientific investigation to ascertain why the number of migratory birds coming to the Pong Lake is reducing, he asserts.

The Pong Lake used to receive the highest number of Bar Headed Geese in India; more than 50,000 Bar Headed Geese had visited the lake in 2022. Besides Bar Headed Geese, more than 100 species of birds like Common Coots, Blade Headed Gull, Common Kingfisher, Red Necked Grebe, Storks and Red Crested Pochard come to the lake during the winter.

According to the sources in the wildlife wing of the Forest Department, in the past two years, some new species of birds such as Great Crested Grebes, Mallards, Tufted Ducks and Long Tailed Ducks have started coming to the lake. The department has put rings on the birds to gather information regarding their migratory patterns.

According to experts, due to changing weather patterns, the winter is also starting late. As a result, migratory birds are also reaching the lake late but are not staying there for long due to the early arrival of the summer.

In 2023, a huge decrease in the number of foreign birds at the Pong Lake was recorded. Every year, more than one lakh foreign birds of about 120 species visit the Pong Lake but last year, only about 83,000 birds of 80 species came there to spend the winter. In 2022, around 50,263 Bar Headed Geese visited the Pong lake but their number decreased to 37,501 last year. Besides, the number of other migratory birds has also reduced.