Annual Waterfowl Census Results of Pong Lake Wildlife Sanctuary

Hi Folks!

Annual Waterfowl Estimation exercise was carried out on 30^th & 31^st January 2011 for monitoring the numerical size of visitor migratory birds’ population during the year 2010-11 in Pong Dam Lake Wildlife Sanctuary. Experts from various institutes & organizations viz. Bombay Natural History Society, Zoological Survey of India, WWF, Delhi Bird Club, Chandigarh Bird Club, Pong Birding Society and many wildlife enthusiasts, bird watchers, volunteers along with officials & officers from Forest Department , participated in this mega exercise. Entire Pong Dam Lake Wildlife Sanctuary was divided in to 20 Sections. About 90 persons participated in this exercise. Each section was thoroughly traversed on land and water by a team of 4-6 members headed by an expert. After two day long exercise, it has been concluded that 1,32,000 waterfowls of 95 different species have visited Pong Dam Lake this year. Dominant species are:

Common Pochard (41200),

Bar Headed Goose (23800),

Northern Pintail (13900),

Common Coot (12200),

Great Cormorant (9400) and

Common Teal (6400).

Pied Avocet (10) has been noticed for the first time. Common Shelduck (25), rarely seen in Indian wetlands, was also observed. Other noticeable species are Great Crested Grebe, Black Necked Grebe, Greylag Goose, Red Crested Pochard, Ferruginous Pochard, Common Merganser, Eurasian Spoonbill, Greater White Fronted Goose, Western Reef Egret, Garganey, Black Bittern, Sarus Crane, and Osprey.

Most of these birds migrate from their breeding places in trans-Himalaya region in Tibet, Central Asia, Russia and Siberia. Over the last few years Pong Dam Lake, also a Ramsar site, has become an ideal destination for winter sojourn for many species of Migratory birds.

Last year, 1.45 lakh birds visited the lake. The reduction in the count was mainly due to the high-water level in the reservoir as it reduced the shallow water area preferred by the waterfowls.Most of these birds migrate from their breeding places in the trans-Himalaya region in Tibet, Central Asia, Russia and Siberia.

The figures were released by Mr. Ashwani Gulati, PCCF(Wildlife) Himachal Pradesh. Will share complete figures with you soon.