Flock Watch Breeds Joy For Birders

New Delhi: A summer bird census conducted recently yielded impressive results with bird watchers identifying 145 distinct bird species within the city and adjacent areas. The single-day survey involved collaborative action undertaken by several teams of dedicated birders, whose sighting confirmed a rich tapestry of bird life comprising both resident species and summer migrants.
Delhi and neighbouring regions are host to summer avian visitors from south India, Sri Lanka, Africa and Europe who arrive to breed here. Among the most notable sightings were paradise flycatchers, the Jacobin cuckoo and the Indian pitta.
“Over 70 birders formed nine teams and went to different areas of the city to record the impressive species diversity. They spotted 145 species of resident and summer breeding visitors. “A number of these species breed in Aravali Mangar, Bhondsi, Chandu, Najafgarh, Okhla and other parts of the Yamuna floodplain,” said birder Kanwar B Singh, who organised the birding expedition.
According to eminent birder major general Arvind Yadav, while there was no abnormality observed during the event, the gradual change in the landscape every year has many ecologists worried. Yadav said, “There was no abnormality in terms of sightings. We did not spot anything very rare and it was overall a decent census. However, what I must draw attention to is the changing landscape. For instance, plotting for residential areas is taking place near key bird habitats like Sultanpur and places in the Aravali range. At Sakarpur village near Gurgaon, where there use to be a leopard trail, there is now a highway adventure sports like paramotoring in the waterbody there. This will lead to habitat loss and disturbance for the birds.”
Yadav pointed out that at this time of the year, more than 15 species of summer migrants visit the region, including the Indian pitta, flycatchers, cuckoos, Eurasian golden oriole, rosy starling and bitterns.