Fewer migratory birds spotted in Loktak
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR

Imphal, January 25 2024: Ornithologists conducting a headcount of migratory water birds at the Loktak Lake, the largest freshwater lake in South Asia, expressed disappointment over spotting fewer winged guests this time.

The census, organised by the Bombay Natural History Society and supported by the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change and Loktak Development Authority, covered Loktak and Keibul Lamjao National Park (KLNP) on January 20.KLNP - the largest floating park in the world and home to the rare and endangered, brow-antlered deer, locally known as Sangai, served as the focal point of the head count.

"We did the census exercise at 50 spots across Loktak and Keibul Lamjao and each spot was manned by four ornithologists using telephoto cameras and binoculars," said RK Birjit Singh, state coordinator of Indian Bird Conservation Network (1BCN), on Thursday.

Students and researchers also supported the headcount, he added.

Although the final census report is pending, RK Birjit expressed that the total bird count could be less than 12,000, with a significant drop in species by around 10 .

This decline is disheartening compared to past figures, where over 20,000 birds from more than 20 species were spotted, and in some years, over 30,000 birds were witnessed.

However, he noted that all resident waterfowl species, such as lesser whistling ducks, coot, and pheasant tail jacana, were still observed.

The census included certain migratory bird species like coot, Ferruginous Pochard, and Gad-wall, but Baer's Pochards from Mongolia, seen in previous years at Keibul Lamjao, were notably absent.

Birjit attributed the dwindling figures of migratory water birds at Loktak to factors such as the construction of private fish farms along the lake shores disturbing shoreline birds, an increase in the number of fishermen, poaching, and the use of LED bulbs by fishermen at night.

Before the census, a 3-day workshop, "Itinerary of the Water bird Motivation Camp-2024," was conducted on January 17 at Mangolnganbi College in Bishnupur district.

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