Pampore town in Southern Kashmir has a unique peculiarity for it grows world’s best quality saffron.
Besides, the peripheries of the town,Khonmoh has been a focus for geologists around the globe for studying mysteries of “The Great Dying” event around 250 million years ago which remains preserved in the form of fossils there.
Pampore is also an attraction and subject of study for Zoologists, Ornithologists, Environmentalists and researchers from other allied subjects who frequently visit the town to study its wetlands and hundreds of species of migratory birds which flock them during winters.
It is home to four important water bodies which includes Fashkoori Wetland Reserve, Chatlam Wetland Reserve, Manibugh Wetland Reserve and Krenchoo Wetland Reserve.
Chatlam, locally known as Sarbal, is the largest wetland of Pampore which is located around 2 Kilometers from the main town.
The site can be reached by taking Pampore Konibal or Pampore Baghander route which traverse through the saffron fields.
The Chatlam wetland is situated on a flat land between saffron fields of Pampore and Zabarwan hills and it remains surrounded by Lalpora, Konibal, Tulbagh and Meej villages.
For Mushtaq Ahmad, a local who has set up a shop on one bank of the wetland, this water body offers different hues of beauty to visitors round the year.
He said that many anglers beeline the lake during summers for catching common carp and local visitors enjoy sunset sitting on its banks.
He said during winters it is a most hospitable abode for thousands of avian guests which flock here from various countries of Europe and Asia. He added that it has flying links with Dal Lake and Hokersar wet land in Srinagar.
For Sajid Farooq, Ranger lakes and Wetlands Pampore Chatlam is a well preserved water body with zero poaching incidents.
“The waterfowl finds a conducive environment here,” he said, adding that viewers can watch the birds from very close range. He said that a pontoon boat has been put at their disposal by the department for monitoring.
The wetland is a shallow ( approximate depth is around 30 feet) but permanent water body spread over 852 kanals. It has fluvial origin and supports different fauna and flora.
Sajid believes that around 50,000 birds of different species flock Chatlam and it’s sister wetlands in Pampore.
Local accounts suggest the number different species visiting this site has been increasing since great deluge of 2014 in Kashmir. The locals said that only 50 species were found visiting in 2014 which rose to 90 in 2015.
A local youth, Parvaiz Yusuf, has recorded arrival of 128 species of different birdsincludingMallards, Common Coot, Northern Shoveler, Common Teal, Grey Leg Goose and Neither Pintail.
The blue whistling Thrush (Myophonus caeruleus), The Streaked Laughing-Thush (Trochalopteron lineatum ) and The Indian Golden Oriole (Oriolus kundoo) locally named as Hazaardastaan, Sheena-pi-pin and Posh Nool are a visual treat to eyes.
These singing birds were routinely seen around residential habitations especially Shine Pipin which would descend from upper reaches of Himalayas during winters. However, due to changes in climate and Socio- cultural milieu these are rarely found in civil areas.
