City's winter guests warm up to Sukhna

CHANDIGARH: The Bar-headed Goose, Mallard, Spot-billed Duck, Common Pochard, Gadwall, Northern Shoveler and Common Moorhen are the new winged guests at Sukhna regulatory end. Every year, around 8,000 migratory birds come to Chandigarh from Central Asian countries like Siberia and travel towards Afghanistan and China, before touching down in India.
According to wildlife and forest officials, migratory birds start arriving in Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary from early November and their stay lasts till March or April, depending on the climatic conditions. The winged guests have been visiting here since 25 years due to the suitable conditions of habitat. They will be in their full strength by December end. Last year, around 8,000 migratory birds had flocked in UT.
Pleasant weather and an encouraging amount of reptile and fish in the water bodies provide an ideal habitat. Birds like Brahmany Ducks and Garganey have already started flocking to Sukhna Lake and 190 water bodies of the catchment area, an officer said. Chandigarh wildlife and forest conservator Santosh Kumar stated that migratory birds from colder countries and Himalayan regions had started coming to Chandigarh.
They can be seen at Sukhna Lake and other water bodies in the wildlife sanctuary. Bar-headed goose, Mallard, Spot-billed Duck, Gargney, and Common Pochard have been noticed in groups at the regulatory end, he added.
Migratory birds travel thousands of miles for several weeks to reach Chandigarh. Due to intense cold and heavy snowfall, there is shortage of food and water for them in their home countries," said Anuvir Singh, a city-based wildlife expert.