Sindh: Significant decrease in population of migratory birds this year: experts

[Naveed Yaseen]

By Jan Khaskheli
Sindh’s wildlife conservationists witnessed a significantly small population of migratory birds landing at wetlands and water bodies this year, The News has learnt. These birds are migrating back to their natural habitat in Europe and Siberian regions, owing to the weather change here.

Flocks of birds can be seen flying over the city’s seashore before the sun sets. Since the species are known to rest together, they are flying back in groups. For those, who go to the shoreline to see this phenomenon, this is nothing short of an eye-catching sight.

Zahid Jalbani, programme officer WWF-Pakistan at Keti Bunder, said that long ago, the coastal area and neighbouring waters were home thousands of birds when winter arrived. “Gradually, however, the population of migratory birds is declining. This year local waters received little population here,” he added.

Every year, millions of migratory birds head towards the wetlands of Pakistan to escape the harsh winter of their natural habitats. The distance these birds cover during migration is around 4,500 kilometers. The birds reach Pakistan flying over Karakoram, the Suleiman Range and Hindu Kush along the Indus River.

Wildlife experts believe that there has been an 80 per cent decline in the population of migratory birds this year. Quoting the previous figures, experts said that around 60,000-80,000 birds visited each major lake, such as Keenjhar and the other wetlands.

The migratory birds, for example falcons, cranes, swans, ducks, flamingos, waders and geese reach Pakistan early September and stay here till February. They fly back to Europe and Central Asian states by March. But owing to the weather change this year, they have started to leave earlier than expected.

Wildlife conservationists said climate change might be the worldwide phenomenon affecting the nesting, breeding and migration process. However, here in Pakistan since the situation is troubling, they may have changed their routes towards other countries.

Jalbani, keeping a close eye over the indigenous and migratory birds in the coastal areas and natural lakes, said the main reasons for this decline are unchecked hunting, poaching, tree cutting, pollution and massive construction.

Faiz Sindhi, a local journalist and folklore writer from the Thatta district coastline, said the area is not appealing for the birds anymore. Even indigenous trees and birds have disappeared due to the increasing trend of cutting trees for charcoal that have almost destroyed nesting places of birds.

Meanwhile, Fayaz Rasool, Deputy Manager, KPT Marine Pollution Control Department (MPCD), told The News that the mangrove forests located at the city seashore attract seagulls, grey herons, kites, sandpipers and other waterfowls in the season.

But this year, small groups can be seen flying over and resting at mangroves. He added that the increasing marine pollution may have affected these birds.

“Mountain ranges, large bodies of water, river systems, ocean coastlines, and deserts create guides and obstacles that shape flyways and, to some extent, determine destinations,” explained Rasool.

Amar Leghari from Sanghar said that the area’s lakes receive a small number of migratory birds in Nara Valley.

According to him, since the birds are sensitive, the weather conditions probably forced them to change routes to other waters.

Other dangers that threaten birds during the journey include storms, predators and the disappearance of their usual stopover places where they find food. Only 20 to 30 per cent of the young passerines survive their first migratory journey. Among adults, only half of them will return the following year.

The Sindh Wildlife Department conducts surveys of migratory birds each year. The process is on-going, but they are not certain about the overall decline in the percentage of migratory birds.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=161797