Kanpur: Good rainfall in January has caused an increase in the number and species of migration birds from North Asia and Central Asia in Saman Bird Sanctuary in Mainpuri, appointed as a protected Ramsar site since 2019, in this winter, said AWC Delhi Coordinator Country, Ecology and Conservationist TK Roy.
Spread in an area of ​​500 hectares, Saman Bird Sanctuary is a unique protection located in the Mainpuri district including several smaller wetlands – ideal habitat for water birds.
This is one of the 467 IBA sites in this country (the area of ​​birds & essential biodiversity) appointed by Birdlife International which has a rich birdlife diversity and is also an important winter site for many migrants.
Increased number and species of migratory birds, which are under the threatened classification of IUCN, are recorded during the recent Asia Waterbird Census (AWC) -2022, which is done on the newly appointed Ramsar site – Saman Bird Sanctuary in Mainpuri – by the team Volunteers under Roy’s supervision.
“This year, AWC began on January 2 and continued.
As far as the water bird species, rose to 49 out of last year 40.
Similarly, there was an increase in the bird population Threatered compared to 2021.
Everything happened because some of the habitats were upgraded after the unexpected winter rainfall at this time was almost almost dry wetland habitat.
A total of 49 water bird species included 24 resident species and 25 species of migration, “said Roy Toi on Tuesday.
Roy further said that the water bird is one of the main indicators of wetland health and provides four types of ecological services.
“Wetlands provide habitat feeding, rest, perch and find food for this charismatic species,” he said.
“Among the winter migration water threatened by painted storks, black-headed ibis, black-tailed Godwit, larger Eagle Spotted and Oriental Darters, also recorded, which migrated from North Asia and Central Asia and it was a very positive sign and Good.
News for bird lovers, “he said.
AWC is a citizen program that supports wetland conservation and water bird globally and is recognized by the census of annual water birds and wetland monitoring by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC) as an important part of the national action plan for migratory bird conservation & their habitat along Central Asian flying (2018-2023).