Water birds counted : Drop in number of migratory birds noted
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 21 2016:
Wild birds
which are found in and around
Loktak Lake were counted
today from 50 vantage points.
The bird count carried out
by Forest Department, Wild-
life Wing together with NGOs
was directly supervised by
DFO (Park and Sanctuary)
Arun RS, Range Forest Of-
ficers L Biramangol and Kh
Hitler.
Experts and officials who
took part in the bird count
opined that the number and
species of birds which come
to Loktak and surrounding
areas this season are lower
than the previous year.
Arun RS said that the number of migratory birds which
are taking temporary shelter at Loktak and adjoining areas this
year is lesser as compared to the previous year.
Large flocks of birds were seen in November and December.
Perhaps, many of these birds went to other places either
due to shortage of food or because of the lake's high water
surface, Arun said.
Environmentalist Dr Kh Shamungou said that it would take
some days to tally the total number of birds counted today.
He said that the lesser number and species of wild birds
seen this year may be attributed to climatic changes of the State
and decline in the growth of water weeds (charang) in the lake.
Tingi Macha (Lesser Whistling Teal) and Thoidingam
(Gadwal) which were seen in large number in the preceding
years are not seen much this year.
Nonetheless, Porom (Coot)
is still seen in large numbers like in the preceding years.
Some Nganu Mitngoubi (White eye Pochard) which are
listed in Schedule I are also seen near Toubul.
DFO Arun said that the population of Sangai in Keibul
Lamjao National Park would be counted in March this year.