Devanshi Joshi. Vadodara/DNA
Monday, December 15, 2008
Central Gujarat, formerly a major destination for bird watchers, is losing its charm. While Kaneval, Pariaj, Varasda near Anand, and Vadhavana near Vadodara previously played host to a large variety of migratory birds each winter, the number of these visitors has fallen in the past few years. Ornithologists say as many as 1,40,000 birds visited Kaneval, Pariaj and Vadhvana a decade ago. Now, this figure has shrunk to 40,000. At Varasda, this figure has gone from 28,000 a few years ago, to around 6,000. Experts say decreasing water levels in lakes and fields, coupled with bird hunting and poaching have led to the decrease. Dr. Hiren Soni, an ornithologist who has studied the wetlands of Vadodara and Anand, expresses his worry. “Fewer birds have been visiting Kaneval, Pariaj, Varasda and Vadhavana in the past few years. A decade ago, around 1,40,000 migratory birds came here. That figure has fallen to 80,000 in the past three years. According to the Asian waterfowl census in 1989, there were around 25,000 birds in Varasda. In 2002, there were only around 18,000. This year, only 7,000 birds seem to have visited Varasda,” said Soni.Each year, more than 35 types of migratory birds arrive at Kaneval, Pariaj, Varasda and Vadhavana around the end of October and stay till February or April. Flamingos, Moorhens, Storks, Spoonbills, Northern pintails, and Shovelers come from the colder areas in the north, to breed here. For the past few years, the water level in these lakes has been decreasing, since more water has flowed into the Bay of Khambhat and nearby canals, which are used to irrigate fields. This has resulted in the birds shifting to other places. Another reason behind the shift is overgrazing by local cattle, which creates a shortfall in plants that fish feed on. This, in turn, creates a shortage of the fish, on which the birds feed. This eventually leads to a food scarcity and, consequently, a decline in the population of migratory birds. Dhaval Patel, a wildlife lover who heads the Vidyanagar Nature Club, said, “The government should take steps to maintain the water levels in fields. The decreasing level of water in these fields is the main reason behind the fall in the number of migratory birds visiting the area. The water level in the region's lakes has also declined rapidly, making the place unsuitable for birds.” The fall in the number of migratory has also led to waning interest of tourists, who previously visited the area both from India and abroad.
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