Winged visitors keep their date with Kashmir wetlands

Lakhs of winged visitors from Europe and Central Asia have kept their date with the Kashmir Valley this time as the wildlife department worked overtime to ensure that they made it to the wetlands despite the flood devastation.
The deluge brought in a layer of oil which settled over water in the Hokersar wetland, causing enormous damage to the ecosystem of the wetland, Wildlife Warden of Wetlands Imtiyaz Ahmad told PTI.
"We drained out the water with oily layer to ensure that the visiting birds do not face any difficulty in finding food. We then allowed fresh water to enter the wetland," Ahmad said.

The official said due to the hectic efforts and liberal financial assistance from the state government, more than three lakh birds from various parts of Europe and Central Asia have arrived at Hokersar wetland alone.
"The numbers are picking up in other wetlands of the Valley too," he said.
Ahmad said there was no comparative data available for the number of bird arrivals last year at this time as the floods washed away all the records.
Last year, over 12 lakh birds visited wetlands of Kashmir Valley by middle of December.
Brahminy Duck, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Garganey, Greylag Goose, Mallard, Common Merganser, Northern Pintail, Common Pochard, Ferruginous Pochard, Red-Crested Pochard, Ruddy Shelduck, Northern Shoveler, Common Teal, and Eurasian Wigeon are some of the most sighted birds in these wetlands of Kashmir.