Excelsior Correspondent
PULWAMA, Jan 14: Dry weather conditions have kept migratory birds at bay from various wetlands in Pampore area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district that becomes their home for about six months.
There are three wetlands in Pampore area which include Chaetlam, Krunsoo and Moanpora. Thousands of Migratory birds from Russia, Siberia and other central Asian republics arrive at these wetlands each year from early November and stay here up to March but this year only few species of such guest birds have arrived and that too in small numbers.
The Chaetlam wetland, largest in Pulwama district is situated two kilometres away from national highway in Pampore. This wetland starts at the base of Konibal Plateau and is spread up to Meej, a village one Km from Konibal in Pampore region.
“Last year 40,000 migratory birds arrived here in November which were categorized into 25 different species including Greylag Goose, Mallards, Teals, Shovelers, pintails, Sandhill Cranes, Bargoose, Tufted Duck, Gadewall, Common Pochard and Gray Heron but this year only Common Koots, Common water Hen, Tufted Duck had arrived,” said Rouf Ahmad Sheikh, president, Chaetlam wetland conservation project, adding that some 12 hundreds of three bird species have arrived here which is significantly less than the number that visited last year.
Sajad Ahmad, a researcher, who studies behaviour of migratory birds, said that dry weather conditions in Kashmir have delayed the arrival of migratory birds at the wetland. “With precipitation we would see thousands of birds in these wetlands giving it a lively look,” he said.
This wetland which remained unnoticed on ecotourism map of Kashmir was taken over by Wildlife Department from Fisheries in 2013. Since then the conversation of the wetland has been taken care by a local non-Government Organisation-Youth Parliament headed by Nadeem Qadri.
“A few years back the shooting of birds was rampant but after I took over Chaetlam wet land conservation project, the hunting has completely been brought to halt,” said Nadeem Qadri, adding that a park has been proposed for the conservation and beautification of the wetland.
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