Pong Dam records around 1.77 lakh migratory birds

Himachal Pradesh Pong Dam recorded as many as 1,77022  high attitude migratory foreign birds in this winter season Hamirpur Wildlife division chief Rajeev Kumar said. The Bird count or pre census survey was conducted from  30 to 31 January 2023 in the entire Pong Lake Wildlife Sanctuary. Wildlife Wing, Himachal Pradesh Forest Department, Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), State Biodiversity Board, Wildlife Institute Dehradun and wildlife experts jointly participated in the bird survey . He said that survey and bird count involved various species in the outreach  of distance of thousands of kilometers.  In this year’s count, 1 lakh 17 thousand 22 birds of 88 species have arrived in Pong Dam. Total  88 species were found in the survey Out of the total number, 59 species with 105497 number were water dependent migratory birds numbered  and 29 species and 10393

 water-dependent resident birds and 20 and 1132 species of other birds were found.  The total population of bar-headed geese, the main species, was found to be 50263.  Kumar said that for the first time in Himachal Pradesh, a new species, long-tailed duck was seen, which was reported in Suganara area near the boating point.  Record increase of 66713 was witnessed compared to last year. As many as 1, 10309 migratory birds were counted last year. Other prominent species in this annual bird survey are Eurasian Coot (13035), Northern Pintail (15783), Common Teal (6478), Common Pochard (8096), Eurasian Vision (1674), Little Cormorant (6565), Northern Shoveler (1518) and Great  comrint ( 2768 ).  Other species reported in the lake there are  Lesser White Fronted Goose, Red Crested Pochard, Ferruginous Pochard, Pied Avocet, Northern Lapwing, Common Kestrel.  A Ringed Bar-headed Goose was also sighted during the bird survey. An interesting fact about survey  reveals that only 10 percent of the visiting birds return to Pong Lake and the rest move to other water bodies. The most noticeable increase in the number of birds was that of northern pintail which has increased from 4 thousand 665 last year to 15 thousand 784 this year.  There has also been an increase in the population of bar-headed geese, which is 2665 more than last year’s count.  The number of birds and the number of species are expected to increase in the coming days during their return journey to the breeding sites.  Pre-census survey was conducted in entire catchment of ​​Pong Dam Lake Wildlife Sanctuary as it has divided into 25 parts and the teams were formed accordingly. Bird Census was conducted by  68 participants. Because birds from North-West, Central and South India will start coming to Pong Lake.  Most of these birds migrate from their breeding sites in the trans-Himalayan region in Tibet, Central Asia, Russia and Siberia.  Over the years, Pong Lake Sanctuary, also a Ramsar site, has become an ideal wintering place for many species of migratory birds. The Pong Dam is about 10 kms from Nagrota Suriyan.  It has a  Ransar island in the middle of dam which could be visit with the help of motorboat.