40,000 to 50,000 migratory birds from different countries arrive at Harike wetland in Punjab

Around 40,000 to 50,000 migratory birds are estimated to have arrived at Punjab’s Harike wetland so far.

The arrival of avian guests was late this season because of the delay in onset of the winter season.

The Harike wetland, which is north India’s largest wetland, spreads over 86 square kilometres in the Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Kapurthala districts of Punjab.

It serves as a habitat to rare species of migratory water birds during the winter season.

The wetland is located on the confluence of the Sutlej and Beas rivers.

Migratory birds of around 90 species from different countries, including Siberia, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Russia and other parts of the world arrive at the Harike wetland every year after water bodies get frozen at their native places in winter.

Winged birds which arrive at the Harike wetland stay till March and April.

“Around 40,000 to 50,000 migratory birds are estimated to have arrived at Harike,” said Gitanjali Kanwar, coordinator, World Wild Fund for Nature (WWF) India.

The exact number of the arrival of migratory birds will be known after the census exercise of water birds is conducted this month, she further said.

Migratory birds usually start coming in September but this season, they started arriving in November, said Kanwar, attributing the delay to the late commencement of the winter season.

The number of migratory birds is expected to rise further in the coming days, she said.

At the Harike wetland, species like greylag geese, coots, gadwall, northern pintail, common teal, common pochard, northern shoveler, godwits, redshank, spoonbills and painted storks have arrived.