The number of migratory birds migrating from the coldest parts of Siberia in search of food has been reported to have halved this year due to abnormal monsoon rains and flooding in the districts of rural Sindh including Karachi.
According to Express News, last year more than six and a half lakh birds stayed on the water bodies and lakes of Sindh in search of food and this year the number was reported to be around three lakh.
In most of the districts of Sindh, the birds were distributed in the temporary reservoirs of rainwater in addition to the traditional water bodies due to the water in places due to the floods.
The wildlife department has completed the bird census for the year 2022 and 2023, the bird census continued from January 20 to February 15. The final report regarding the visiting birds from cold regions will be released after a few days.
According to the Administrator of Wildlife Department, Mumtaz Soomro, a large number of pink swans, Nile swans, Chinese ducks, pelicans, chiklas, digoshes, Aaris, Qazs and cranes nest in the water bodies of Sindh, including Karachi, and every year in early November and The arrival of these birds starts from the coldest places in the middle and this stay is around 4 months.
He said that at the beginning of March, they make a journey back to their native areas, the background of their migration to other countries is that in the coldest places of the world, a deep layer of snow freezes on the food of these visiting birds. After which they turn to the temperate regions of the world, including Pakistan, in search of food, these birds include both water and land birds.
He further said that these birds stay at more than 100 lakes, reservoirs, brackish and fresh water reservoirs of Karachi, Badin, Nangarparkar, including Karachi beach, Hawkes Bay, Sandpit, Paradise Point, Rusheen Beach. While Kenjhar, Hale Lake, Sufi Anwar Park and other places of rural Sindh are included.
According to Mumtaz Soomro, a super team was formed in Karachi for bird census, while other teams were formed in other districts of Sindh according to their size. The decrease in the number of birds is due to the recent monsoon rains. The bird census continued, this time due to the rains hundreds of lakes were formed in places, the birds were distributed due to the temporary waterbodies.
He said that due to the rain, most of the water reservoirs were formed in the mountains and difficult paths, due to the lack of access of the bird census teams to these places, they were not included in the surveys. In addition to the traditional methods for counting, contemporary precise modern methods are also adopted, in which the most tested method is the use of spotting scopes.
According to Mumtaz Soomro, during the bird census, a square wooden frame is made near any water body, along with which other devices including spotting scope are installed. The number of birds is counted, this process is repeated again and again at a distance of a few kilometers and this number is gradually compiled in the form of a report after the bird census, this series of bird census has been going on since 1972.
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