New Delhi: Bird enthusiasts in the city were relieved. What started as an unpromising birding year has turned out an exceptional one regarding species diversity.
On Dec 1, 15 teams comprising over a hundred skilled birders conducted a winter bird count across 15 primary habitats in the region. They documented 254 species of migratory and resident birds. Two species were spotted for the first time in the region.
The species were spread over 70 groups of birds such as ducks, geese, and waterfowls; hawk eagles and kites; sandpipers; old world flycatchers; wagtails and pipits; herons, egrets and bitterns; gulls, terns, and skimmers; larks; starlings; osprey; rollers and several others.
The total species count increased to at least 257 within a week after the census, as three more migratory species were recorded. Birders consider this a successful season, emphasising the importance of protecting the city’s declining habitats. In previous years, the total count typically ranged between 230 and 250.
“Any species density above 250 is very good. This makes this birding season a good one. However, we must understand that this census does not represent the spectrum of bird diversity round the year as the city gets many other beautiful species as summer migrants and vagrants,” birder Kanwar B Singh said.
He noted that despite high species diversity and expectation of more arrivals, flock numbers were lower this winter. Birders attribute this to the delayed winter onset and deteriorating habitat conditions.
“Typically, in the previous years, this total number fluctuated between 230 and below 250. Therefore, while the late onset of winters has impacted the total populations of each wintering species, the diversity of birds continues to be good for the season and is comparable or even better than the previous years,” he said, while pointing out that the sighting of vagrant species like Little Bunting, Eurasian Griffon, and Slender-billed Gull were indeed exciting with the two first records for the region.
This season, birders observed five exceptionally rare species. The Little Gull and Little Bunting were first-time sightings.
Records show other rare birds documented in the city include the Marble Teal, Common Ring Plover and Slender-billed Gull. They explained that plovers and gulls were shore birds migrating from Europe to Gujarat’s coast. The Little Gull usually migrates to Africa.
“There were just five sightings of the Little Gull across India. This is the first time that we saw it here in Delhi-NCR. It was sighted at Chandu in Haryana,” Maj Gen Arvind Yadav said.
With dropping temperatures and snowfall in the hills, birders anticipate more species will arrive soon. “Some species of vagrants like the White-tailed Eagle, Greater and Lesser White-fronted Goose have not arrived this year so far,” said Col Pankaj Sharma, a city-based birder.
“The analysis of the sightings database once again underscores the importance of wetlands to the rich birdlife of our region’s bird diversity. These wetlands include the Yamuna river and adjoining floodplains and jheels and waterbodies in Greater Noida, Najafgarh drain and Sultanpur sanctuary. Over 75% of the region’s birdlife, and these include not just waterbirds, are recorded in these habitats. The scrub and forests of the Delhi Ridge and the Aravallis also harbour a diverse avian fauna,” said Kanwar B Singh.
