Paddy fragrance attracts waterfowls in Sindh

[Naveed Yaseen]

Paddy fields in Sindh attract flocks of watercocks (Gallicrex cinerea), which migrate from neighbouring Indian grounds at the advent of monsoon season and nest among the thin paddy plants. They breed there during the monsoons, and fly back with chicks to their natural waters.

They are generally called “rainy birds”, but the local people refer to them as “paddy-birds”.

Rice is cultivated during the summer. This time, however, the paddy crops in Sindh have not even reached the seedling stage yet, wildlife experts explain. As a result, the birds have not been able to weave their nests, leaving them vulnerable to traditional hunters.

This hen-like bird has long, slender legs especially designed to hold on to and move along the reeds. A reasonable level of water is maintained in the rice fields as it is essential for the crop. Consequently a number of waterfowls, including ducks, rails and wader tribes, gather in and around paddy fields. Wildlife experts say that the monsoon rain brings more food for these creatures, because insects come out of their burrows after the rain.

Watercocks are noisy birds, especially at dawn and dusk, with a loud, gulping call. Originally inhabitants of southern Indian waters, these birds fly to paddy crops cultivated in Badin, Thatta and Sanghar districts of Sindh in June and fly back in the end of September. Wildlife experts said that even though paddy crops are cultivated in other districts as well, these birds can be seen only in three districts bordering India.

Senior farmers say that the local paddy commodities attract birds and animals because of their particular fragrance. Besides, the paddy crops consume more water. However, now the growers here have changed their mind and prefer to cultivate genetically-modified paddy, which consumes less water. Therefore, water ponds that attract birds no longer exist here.

Similarly, traditional paddy growers do not use pesticides or fertilizers, or deploy heavy machinery. However, increasing trends of corporate farming and excessive use of fertilisers in Sindh may affect birds and other wildlife in the province.

These crops provide birds with sites for shelter, food and roosting. The rice plants stay in the field for about five months and provide suitable habitat for 28 to 30 species of birds.

At seedling stage, the puddles of paddy fields with sheets of water offer attractive feeding sites for sandpipers, plovers, rails, crakes, snipes and stints. The vegetative stage is inhabited by paddy field warbler, wagtails, chats, etc. In the crop maturing stages, mynas, swallows, wagtails, harriers, hawks, kites, owls, Munias, bayaweavers, red-headed bunting and warblers visit paddy fields. Throughout the crop herons, paddy bird or pond heron (Ardeola grayii) in particular and egrets, storks, Ibises, frequent the paddy fields.

Sindh, which being the place of lakes, canals and wide grazing fields, has always been attractive for birds but since the introduction of corporate farming, the firms officials have been using heavy machinery to clear the tree cover which may create threats to wildlife in the province.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=192015