Winged visitors throng wetlands in Bundi district

KOTA: With the onset of winter, migratory birds have started visiting the wetlands of Bundi district and Hadauti region. However, their arrival was delayed by a month this year as they are usually here in November.
Wetlands in Bardha Dam have been a favourite with the Pelicans for decades but this year they have been seen in wetlands of Ramnagar pond of the district.This is also because fishery contractors’ employees at Bardha Dam drive away the winged visitors away fire crackers.
The fishery contracts for the dams pose a threat to the existence of Pelican and other migratory birds that stay here for around four months, said wildlife activist and former honorary wildlife warden, Prithvi Singh Rajawat. With snowfall in middle Asia, Pelicans that weigh around 9 to 15 kilograms live on fish and consume 5-7 kg per day. They fly around 3,000kms to reach here for safe winter stay and breeding, said Rajawat. He said the state government should keep a dam free from fishery contract in every district so that winged visitors can have a safe stay. The provisions of Wetland Act should be effectively implemented, and agriculture and non-forest activities should be banned in ponds and wetlands, he said.
There are eight species of Pelicans and of them Rosy Pelican or White Pelican and Dalmatian Pelican, the largest member of Pelican family arrive every year in southern and eastern parts of Rajasthan. tnn