Valley ready for winged visitors

These days the skyline around this famous wetland is packed with flocks of migratory birds. Since the first week of November, over three lak...

These days the skyline around this famous wetland is packed with flocks of migratory birds. Since the first week of November, over three lakh migratory birds from Siberia, North Europe, China and Central Asia have visited the Hokersar wetland reserve, situated about 12 km from Srinagar.

8216;8216;We have been visited by four lakh birds,8217;8217; said J-K Minister of Forests and Environment Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Sofi, while setting free a captured bird at Hokersar. That8217;s a slight increase from last year, when Hokersar got less than three lakh birds despite sluggish migration in the initial weeks.

8216;8216;We have made excellent arrangements by providing plenty of food, better water regulation and generated awareness among the people living on the periphery of the wetland,8217;8217; said G.M. Seth, chief wildlife warden. 8216;8216;Since Hokersar is the biggest wetland in the state, it attracts the major chunk of migratory birds,8217;8217; Seth added.

Approximately three lakh birds from the duck, geese and rails family like Common Teal, Mallard, Pintail, Gadwall, Wigeon, Coot, Greylag Goose, Shoveller, Red Crested Pochard and White-Eyed Pochard, visit Hokersar every year. They reach here early in September and stay on till spring.

Wetlands like Hygam, Shalbug, Narkara, Mirgund and the lakes of Dal, Wullar and Mansabal, Anchar too play host to these water fowl.

Sofi said water management at Hokersar has ensured that despite a prolonged dry spell, the wetland manages to retain water. Sofi is hopeful about Hokersar managing to attract a record number of birds this year. J-K Wildlife officials too are hopeful that the number of migratory birds at other water bodies would also swell when food becomes scarce at Hokersar.

The department this year claims to have taken revolutionary measures to preserve and protect the wetlands and waterbodies in Kashmir. These include maintaining optimum water level in rivers and lakes, constructing protective bunds, holding awareness camps and ensuring that ample food is available for the birds.

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The department has also formed an anti-poaching team this year that will conduct night patrols at vulnerable points. 8216;8216;Some people have been booked under the Wildlife Act and their weapons confiscated,8217;8217; he stated.