Motivation camp on bird water held
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, February 07, 2012: Bird watchers in Manipur began to spot Glossy Ibis, a rare water bird besides sea gull in group in the state's wetlands in the recent time.

Glossy Ibis is known as Mayang-Urok in local language while Sea-gull as Touthra Manbi.

"We've spotted these birds in Loktak and Ungamen wetland areas since last year", says Dr Kh Shamungou,noted environmentalist while sharing his experience on water bird census during a day-long motivation camp on water bird census 2012 here at Toubul village,35 km south of Imphal in Bishunupur district."Earlier there was no sign of spotting such birds".

Stating that the Glossy Ibis is yet to reappear at the popular Chilika lake in Orissa,the environmentalist also expressed happiness over the development of Lamyai pat of Tangjeng Khunjao under Manipur's Sugnu assembly constituency as the biodiversity spot for its rich flora and fauna.

"We've never seen water bird such as Glossy Ibis in our wetlands in the past", feels ornithologist RK Birjit.

"Besides we've also began to see appearance of Sea-Gull too".

According to official forest records, Manipur is home to more than 538 birds including 35 globally endangered species.

Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest(wildlife) Dr Anilkumar was the chief guest in the day's motivation camp which was participated by about 70 representatives of more than a dozen local clubs in and around Loktak Lake.

RK Srivastava, Member secretary of the Manipur Biodiversity Board was the Guest of Honour while Pradhan W Bornee Devi of Toubul village presided the gathering.

Former college lecturer K Jugeshwor of Moirang and ornithologist RK Birjit also presented lectures on how the water birds could be identified and conducted bird counting with modern kits.

The experts in the day's camp expressed that birds are nature's indicator.

We need bird counting as it controls insect invasion in conserving food grains for the human race, the experts felt.So bird census is compulsory for wildlife conservation in the region.

This time the bird census will be conducted by establishing around 35 counting centres against last year's 27 counting centres, across the three valley districts-Imphal West, Thoubal and Bishnupur with the involvement of more than a dozen local clubs on February 11 .

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