Kolkata: More birds have arrived at Santragachhi Jheel this year than in the last seven winter.
Lower whistling duck count, the most prominent varieties found in Jheel, is the highest in nine years.
The official bird counted at Santragachhi Jheel held on Saturday morning caused cheering among conservationists and Birders for confirming stable growth in a drastic amount four years ago.
“On Saturday, 6,742 birds were recorded at Santragachhi Jheel, 20% more than last year when 5,600 birds were recorded on the second Saturday of February.
This is a testimony for the success of the Bengal Bengal Bengal and Howrah Municipal Corporation’s success in ensuring habitat conservation in Jheel,” Arjan Basu Roy of Nature said that had been entrusted with the cleansing of a water body before the migration season for the past four years.
The census is carried out between 10am and 11 in the morning.
Depression over South Bengal in an abundant census until Saturday has left a natural member who is worried because the rain is threatened with spreading birds.
An informal calculation conducted last Saturday and again on Wednesday saw a wide variance associated with temperature rise.
However, the fear was mixed with a decrease in temperature that saw birds gathered back to the place perched on Santragachhi Jheel on Saturday, which led to a record count.
“Also this year, 60% of hyacinth is removed before the arrival of migratory birds and 40% maintained for floating islands as a place to rest and perch.
But heavy rain causes high Hyacinth growth and now 60% of the water is covered by it.
We must see how to maintain a balance, “said Lena Chatterjee, who has worked on the ground to oversee the cleansing of ecacintth water and the arrival of migration birds over the past few months.
While the team is happy with the total number of birds, they want to now start working by way of increasing the diversity of birds.
“Lower whistling ducks are developing local migrants.
But people like Duck Ferrugginous, General Teal, North Shoven, tufted ducks and North Pintail have come in a few numbers or not at all,” he showed.
What can lead to the fewer the arrival of distance migration birds is the change that occurs in Bengal rural because of development which causes shrinkage of agricultural land and enhancement of lighting in villages.
While local birds testify for changes throughout the year are accustomed to him, long-term migration birds that come once a year may find challenging evolution.