This year Chandigarh has seen a dramatic decline in the number of waterfowl species including migratory birds as compared to last year.
A total of 335 waterfowl were recorded in Sukhna and Dhanas, while 73 species of birds, both waterfowl and others, were recorded during the annual Salim Ali Bird Species Census and Waterfowl Census conducted by the Chandigarh Bird Club on Sunday.
As per census details, only 24 species were recorded in Sukhna Lake, which was once considered to be a hub of migratory birds.
As per records, the census was conducted for Chandigarh by a total of 34 members and six teams of volunteers in Sukhna and Dhanas lakes. Three other teams went to the Ghaggar river beyond Chhatbir, Siswan Dam and Mirzapur Dam for the Inter-State Chandigarh Zone (ISCR). “Surprisingly, the number of species, as well as the total number of birds sighted, was lower than in the previous year. In fact, we can say that it was the lowest since the first census, which was conducted in 2017. ,” said CBC president Mitinderpal Singh Sekhon.
Bird census was also done at six locations adjacent to Chandigarh and a total of 2040 waterfowl and 99 species were sighted.
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