Indore: The number of bird species found in winter at Talawali Chanda has come down from 58 to 48, according to Common Bird Monitoring Programme (CBMP) conducted by Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) with local NGO The Nature Volunteers recently.
Ajay Gadikar and Natarajan Ramanathan conducted the survey at Talawali Chanda lake in the city penning down different bird species. “Wetland situated near village Talawali Chanda, located eight kilometres from Vijay Nagar, is a host to many bird species,” Gadikar remarked. He said this wetland is a manmade water reservoir made to collect rain water that can be used for harvesting the winter crops. “We have been visiting this lake for past five years during winter months and have seen many species of migratory and resident birds thriving in good numbers here,” Ramanathan told Free Press.
About the area
This is a low lying plain area amidst agriculture fields and townships where the rain water gets collected during monsoon. A small bund is made across its periphery to stop the water. It is surrounded by reed beds and agricultural fields on one side. It has now become an urban lake with many new townships coming up. The early mornings are a good time for bird watching.
Survey findings
About 48 species of birds were spotted More than 200 barn swallows, migratory birds, which were perched on electric wires across the lake were found A peregrine falcon, the bird with the fastest flying speed, was seen sitting high on a mobile tower feeding on a duck it had killed
Missing birds
In 2018, count was 58 species of birds. The reduction of 10 species this year is due to lesser rain in the area and hence the marshy areas are missing. These areas provide refuge to waders like grey headed swamp hen, Eurasian moorhen, pheasant tailed jacana and bronze winged jacana, which were missing this year.
Possible reason for missing species
Since this habitat is a manmade water body and the only source of water is the monsoon rain, less rainfall in any year shrinks its size and shape. This year, water body has 20% to 30% less water than it was holding in 2018. “I have seen drastic change in this habitat of birds this year as compared to previous year. How crucial water is for survival of any wetland will be clear to anyone who compares rainfall in last two years,” Gadikar said.
