Thanks to foul air & climate change, only 54 species of foreign birds visit Sultanpur bird sanctuary this time

Gurugram: Only 54 species of foreign birds have come to Sultanpur bird sanctuary this season. At least 90 species of foreign birds normally visit Sultanpur bird sanctuary every year but this time the count has fallen.

Moreover, the famous Haddig bird that used to be one of the most popular birds has still not been seen. Other birds that have not come to the bird sanctuary this time includes Purple Heron, Common Teal, Rufous Woodpecker, Fire-capped tit and Red Throated Flycatcher.

According to officials, climate change and polluted air are being considered as major reasons for decline bird counts. In a positive note, however, the officials expressed optimism that new species especially those from America has come this time to the bird sanctuary.

"Over the years winters are taking a long time for setting in. The change in climate patterns can be considered as one of the major factors for the low population of birds. Besides climate change, there is also a possibility that pollution may have also impacted the low arrivals of foreign birds this season," said a senior official from South Haryana forest department.

Set up in 1972, it is the only location in Haryana where a large number of foreign and domestic birds come and breed, the sanctuary was declared as a national park in 1991. Challenges however galore for the bird sanctuary as the water levels in the bird park are receding at a fast pace.

To increase the water levels, there are now plans by the authorities to divert the water that goes to the Yamuna from the city towards Sultanpur.

Apart from the Sultanpur sanctuary, a large number of migratory birds are seen in the Manger forest and Damdama lake of the Aravalli region.

The A Sultanpur-Najafgarh-Jhajjar corridor is also an ideal place for domestic and migratory birds to stay in the winter season. The Jhajjar bird sanctuary is also one of the few bird sanctuaries present in the state.

Spread in the area of 1.42 square kilometers, the bird park was notified as a national park on July 5, 1991. The national park has been carved out of the land of villages Sadhrana, Chandu, Sultanpur, and Saidpur.