Fewer migratory birds in Gurugram’s Sultanpur National Park this season

“Migratory birds start coming in by the first week of October and around 22,000 birds visit Sultanpur Park every year by the end of January. However, this year, it could be much lower. We are waiting for an increase in the birds at the lake in the coming days,” he said.

Chahal said that the number of migratory birds had come down in many other areas including Bharatpur and Okhla. One of the reasons for this could be the change in temperature levels, he said.

“These birds come from cold regions like Siberia, Central Asia and Europe and the decreased migration could be attributable to the fact that the winter is not cold enough to force them out of the region. If the birds still find food there,they won’t migrate. However, the temperature here has not come down to suit their pattern. We thought the temperature would go down the last two days, but it has remained intact,” he added.

Chahal said smog could also be a reason for the change in the migratory pattern of the birds. “But this reduced level was observed across the country,” he said. The wetlands at Chandu, Basai and Najafgarh have also seen a drop in the number of birds by 40 per cent.

“Sultanpur Park is protected while Basai, Chandu and Najafgarh are not. There is a disturbance in these smaller wetlands due to increased human activities and interference, and the number of migratory birds here has come down drastically,” Chahal added.

The Sultanpur Park has recorded around 250 bird species. The park with an area of 1.42 sq km, is not only a national park and wildlife sanctuary but also a Ramsar site since 2021.