Delhi Zoo nurtures threatened birds

FROM DISTANT LAND

Threatened species of migratory birds from Central Asia were recently spotted in Delhi Zoo wetlands.

In a census conducted by Wetlands International South Asia, the wetland which is considered favourable natural habitat for migratory birds saw a large presence of threatened species – Painted Stork, Greater Adjutant Stork and Black-necked Stork. Though the rainfall was less this year, Delhi Zoo wetland became a breeding ground for these threatened species.

With active support from Delhi Zoo, the AWC team under the aegis of ecologist T K Roy carried out the census after 15 years in the zoo wetland. The team recorded total 22 water bird species from January 10 to 25.

Out of 14 resident species, three threatened species, red listed by International Union for Conservation of Nature, and eight long distant winter migratory species from far North Asia, Central Asia and Siberian parts, were spotted.

“This season the flock of lesser number of Painted Storks arrived for breeding than seen in previous years, but successful breeding with grown up chicks has been recorded,” Roy shared the good news with Metrolife. 

“Apart from large animal diversity, including birds in captivity, the Delhi Zoo has two small open natural wetland habitats that host a good number of diverse wild water birds. The population includes migratory birds and Indian resident species like Little Cormorant, Little Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron and Grey Heron which breed here.

Large flocks of Painted Stork (threatened species) migrate here for breeding as well, long distance migratory birds arrive here for wintering,” Roy said.

More so, among major long distance migratory bird species, Eurasian Coot, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Gadwal, Common Teal, Grey Wagtail and Common Sandpiper, which generally come during winters, had a successful breeding.

In Delhi, there are several natural wetland habitats for water birds like Okhla Bird Sanctuary, Najafgarh Drain Bird Sanctuary, Sanjay Lake, Bhalswa Lake, Hauz Khas Lake and Purana Quila Lake. Some of these have either vanished or are on a decline.

The ones existing are either drying up or their natural habitat, that lures different avian species, is shrinking due to rapid urbanisation, human interference and climate change and less rainfall.

“Due to global climate change migration trends of these water birds have changed. Vulnerability, late migration, lesser bird species diversity and lesser number/ population all over the country was observed and recorded this year,” the ecologist rued.