Annual Migratory Bird Census: 95146 migratory, resident birds recorded in 4 Pulwama wetlands

Pulwama: A total number of 95146 migratory and resident birds have been recorded in four wetlands in Pampore area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district in a survey carried out by Department of wildlife protection, wetlands division Kashmir on Tuesday.
The four wetlands in Pampore where census was conducted include Chatlam, Fashkoori, Manibugh and Krenchoo.
Mohammad Amin Block Officer wetlands Pampore revealed that a total number of 95146 birds which include migratory birds as well resident birds were recorded by the census team in these four wetlands.
Officials informed 5 teams were deputed to conduct the census which included officials from department of wildlife protection, volunteers from WCF-Wildlife Conservation Fund, a non-government organisation, students from Government Degree College ( GDC) Pampore, Central University of Kashmir( CuK) besides local residents.
The census was carried simultaneously across all the 4 wetlands to rule out chances of double counting.
The officials informed that 56867 birds were found in Chatlam, 18502 in Fashkoori, 18901 in Krenchoo and 876 in Manibugh.
They further added that Shoveller was most commonly sighted migratory bird followed by Common Teal.
Gadwall, Mallard and Northern Pintail were other commonly sighted birds, the officials said.
Gulzar Ahmad, a concerned official of Department of Wildlife protection, Wetlands Kashmir, said that the census is carried out each year which helps in analysing preparing a database of these birds for analysing various trends in their population.
The officials revealed that the number is slightly less as compared to that of previous year.
They said that there can be multiple reasons for the decrease.
“ The birds might have been disturbed due to renovation work carried out in the wetlands,” Mohammed Amin said, adding that the other reason can be reverse migration which has already started from different wetlands of Kashmir.
The Department of Wildlife protection, Wetlands Division Kashmir, carries out the Annual Water Birds Census every year in different wetlands of Kashmir in February. The census is carried in 8 protected wetlands out of which 4 fall in Pampore area of Pulwama and other water bodies which attract these migratory birds in significant numbers.