Migratory birds arrive in advance at Gharana Wetland Reserve

Migratory birds arrive in advance at Gharana Wetland Reserve Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, November 22
With the onset of the winter, migratory birds from Central Asia has started arriving in advance at the Gharana Wetland Reserve, near the border with Pakistan, 35 km from here.

Bar-headed Geese and Grey-legged Geese are the first ones to arrive at the wetland reserve this month. This reserve attracts a large number of birds, including some endangered species.

With the early arrival of these birds, the State Wildlife Protection Department has also started an exercise to remove weeds from the wetland and make it conducive for the stay of the birds. “About 20,000 birds come here during the winter, which has already started. Normally, these birds arrive here in December and stay till February end and return to the countries they had migrated from. This year, birds of a few species have arrived in advance,” said Tahir Ahmad Shawl, Wildlife Warden, Jammu.

He added the climate in the Jammu regions suited these birds. “When Central Asia experiences a harsh winter, these winged visitors prefer to stay in Jammu and Kashmir,” added Shawl.

Known as a bird watchers’ paradise, this reserve attracts birds, including Siberian Hans, Keel, Grey Heron, Little Grebe, Mallard Duck, Common Goose, Purple Moorhen and Little Cormorants.

Asked about the reasons for the decrease in the number of migratory birds in the past few years, Shawl said, “People living in the adjoining areas of the wetland reserve create disturbances, which results in a decrease in the number of visiting birds. But this time the department has been trying its best to get the maximum cooperation from the villagers. We are trying to provide compensation to the farmers, who suffer loss of crops.”

He added the matter had already been taken up with Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Pawan Kotwal and Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Sanjeev Verma for providing compensation to the farmers. “Though there is no law for providing compensation to farmers, the Chief Wildlife Warden has been trying hard to sort out this

old issue. He is trying to ensure that birds come here in a large number to enjoy the winter in the Jammu region without any disturbance,” he added.

To watch and click the pictures of these migratory birds, a large number of people and wildlife photographers also throng the reserve.

Migratory Bar-headed Geese in Gharana Wetland Reserve along the Pakistan border, 35 km from Jammu. Courtesy: the Tribune