Climate change alters migration patterns of Eurasian birds in Kashmir wetlands

Pulwama: Migration pattern of migratory birds visiting various wetlands of Kashmir from different Eurasian countries has been impacted by climate change.
Experts informed Rising Kashmir that migratory birds fly to Kashmir from various European and Asian countries through Central Asian Flyway ( CAF).
Director of Wetland Research Centre at WCF ( Wildlife Conservation Fund), Nadeem Qadri, told Rising Kashmir that this winter Kashmir witnessed a protracted dry spell with abnormal high day temperatures and delayed snowfall.
“The unfavourable climatic conditions affected migration pattern of these avian guests,” he said, adding that this season they witnessed earlier arrival and earlier departure of the migratory birds.
He added that migratory birds while on their flight to end destinations used to stay at different wetlands along the CAF.
“ It was observed that the duration of stay at these halt stations were reduced due to relatively warm climate this winter,” he said, adding that sufficient number of migratory birds had visited the four wetlands of Pampore including Chatlam Wetland Reserve, Manibugh Wetland Reserve and Krenchoo Wetland Reserve.
He said that they had counted around one lakh migratory birds at these wetlands in the beginning of this winter but due to unfavourable climate they moved to different states of the North India like Punjab, Himachal and Uttrakhand.
He added that the avian guests will return in March before starting reverse migration.
Tariq Ahmad, a local resident, informed Rising Kashmir that the number of avian guests at Chatlam and other wetlands of Pampore has significantly declined.
Sajid Farooq, Ranger lakes and Wetlands Pampore , said that climate change has it’s impact on wetlands but denied any decrease in number of migratory birds at Pampore wetlands.
“ The wetlands have sufficient water level and a good number of migratory birds are present there,” he said, adding that the birds may be fluctuating at this time.
He added that exact number of birds is ascertained by Asian bird’s census after 15 February.