Over half a million migratory birds visit Kashmirs Hokersar wetland

While the chill in the air is rejoicing tourists in Kashmir, the presence of over half a million migratory birds from Central Asian countries to the Valley has doubled everyones joy.

Hokersar (Srinagar), Dec.2 : While the chill in the air is rejoicing tourists in Kashmir, the presence of over half a million migratory birds from Central Asian countries to the Valley has doubled everyone's joy.

Visitors to the Hokersar wetland, 12 kilometres north of Lal Chowk in Srinagar, are greeted with umpteen chirps and flapping of wings. These birds have arrived with the onset of winter.

"In Kashmir's wetlands, these birds get the temperature that suits their metabolism. They generally don't come here for breeding but to stay in a transition period. We take measures for their safety and protection," said Abdul Rouf Zargar, Wildlife Warden, Hokersar Wetlands in Kashmir.

Spread over an area of 5.6 square kilometres, Hokersar is an ideal wetland. Every year, all these birds come to Hokersar from Siberia and other regions in the winter season.

These birds belong to traditional habitats like Russian Siberia, China, Eastern Europe and the Philippines use Hokersar wetland as their transitory camps between September and October and again around spring.

The wetland plays a vital role in sustaining a large population of wintering, staging and breeding birds.

Besides Hokersar, Kashmir has wetlands at Hygam, Shalibag and Mirgund.

A record number of migratory birds have visited Hokersar in recent years, and this year, the number will be bigger than that recorded last year, observed Abdul Rouf Zargar.

"At least 5.5 lakh migratory birds have arrived here. In a few days, some of these birds would migrate to other wetlands of Kashmir," Zargar, the wildlife warden for Hokersar wetland said.

Birds found in Hokersar include Brahminy ducks, tufted ducks, Gadwall, Garganey, Graylag Goose, Mallard, Common Merganser, Northern Pintail, Common Pochard, Ferruginous Pochard, Red-Crested Pilchard, Ruddy Shelduck, Northern Shoveler, Common Teal, and Eurasian Wigeon.

The Hokersar wetland was earlier spread over a sprawling 13.5 sq km. The area, however, has shrunk due to alleged encroachments. By Suhail Ahmed

ANI