Bhopal: Winged visitors have stopped descending in Bhopal, which is called the City of Lakes. Experts have blamed rise in pollution level and disruption of eco-system like wetland mismanagement near Upper Lake and other water bodies for the sharp drop in number of migratory birds coming to Bhopal.
These migratory birds come from Siberia, South East Asia and other countries when temperatures drop there. Their migration depends on availability of food and suitable atmosphere like temperature, pollution level, well maintained water reservoirs. Experts say birds like black neck stork, Garganey duck and other migratory birds have stopped flocking at Upper Lake. The presence of other birds like water hens, ducks, storks, herons has drastically reduced.
In a bid to raise awareness, Van Vihar National Park and NGOs have organsied bird watching camp under Wild Life Week, which will continue till October 7. Whether such an activity will help to address the causes behind the absence of winged guests remains to be seen. Sangeeta Rajgir, an expert on birds who runs NGO Bhopal Birds, said, “Winged visitors like black neck stork, Garganey ducks have stopped flocking to Bhopal. They were last spotted in 2006.”
According to Rajgir, birds used to flock at Shahpura Lake earlier where bird watching camp would be held. “But now, no migratory bird is spotted. Reason, we failed to check pollution and sewage flow into Shahpura Lake. Sewage flows to Shahpura Lake through Ekant Park. So winged visitors have stopped descending there,” she said and added that thousands of water hens could be spotted in Upper Lake once, which used to look black. “Now, you see hardly 10 percent of water hens there,” Rajgir remarked.
