Shimla, Feb 8 (Agency) As many as 108,578 birds of 96 species were counted in the second round of avian census on the Ramsar site of Pong Dam, state wildlife authorities said on Monday. The report is important in light of recent outbreak of theAvian Influenza in which around 5,000 migratory birds died. PCCF (Wildlife) Archana Sharma and CCF Wildlife (North) Dharamshala Upasana Patial also participated and supervised the Annual Water Bird Count. According to the bird count report, out of 10,8578, water dependent migratory birds are 101,431 of 51 species and water dependent resident birds are 6,433 of 29 species.
The other species which have higher population count during this year are Eurasian Coot (24,163), Northern Pintail (12,702), Common Teal (8,444), Little Cormorant (3,649), Great Cormorant (3,410), Grey Lag Goose (2,297), Northern Shoveler (2,275) and Common Pochard (2,138). The species which find noticeable mention are Red Necked Grebe, Great Bittern, Lesser White-Fronted Goose, Red Crested Pochard, Ferruginous Pochard, Pied Avocet, Northern Lapwing, Peregrine Falcon etc. The other species which have higher population count during this year are Eurasian Coot (24,163), Northern Pintail (12,702), Common Teal (8,444), Little Cormorant (3,649), Great Cormorant (3,410), Grey Lag Goose (2,297), Northern Shoveler (2,275) and Common Pochard (2,138). The species which find noticeable mention are Red Necked Grebe, Great Bittern, Lesser White-Fronted Goose, Red Crested Pochard, Ferruginous Pochard, Pied Avocet, Northern Lapwing, Peregrine Falcon etc. During the counting exercise one Bar-headed Goose and one Grey Lag Goose with collars was of species counted this year are marginally less as compared to last year, probably due to the impact of Avian Influenza outbreak which was first reported on December 28, 2020.
Although the total population of water birds declined during the peak of Avian Influenza outbreak, but there is gradual increase in the total population of birds as a result of continuing containment measures being taken in the Pong Dam Lake. The annual water bird count at Pong Dam Lake Wildlife Sanctuary was conducted in the first of February, 2021 and the exercise was conducted under restrained conditions due to the prevailing Avian Influenza outbreak in Pong Dam Lake as well as the COVID-19 Pandemic. The exercise was conducted by Wildlife wing of Himachal Pradesh by deploying 57 staff members in 26 sections of the sanctuary for counting the water dependent birds.