There has been a drastic reduction in the number of migratory birds recording their presence in Kurra, a wetland in Mainpuri district.
Kurra, which has been acknowledged in IBA (Important Bird Areas) list of the country, used to witness huge flocks of migratory birds, particularly during winters.
The Coots, bar-headed geese, grey leg geese, Demoiselle cranes, common cranes, tern, gulls, red-crested poachards and lesser whistling teels are some of the 62 varieties of migratory birds that had been coming regularly to Kurra in the past years.
These birds were not seen this year, causing considerable worry to ornithologists and bird-watchers, in general.
Mr P.K. Kumar, a retired government employee and self-confessed bird watcher, says, “The large-scale intervention by farmers and the presence of mobile towers in the region is causing the migratory birds to stay away. Besides, the Baheliya community that catches and sells birds for a living, has been very active in this region and could have been instrumental in warding off the migratory birds,” he explained.
Another major threat to Kurra is the draining of wetlands for fishing and agricultural purposes.
Rajiv Chauhan, secretary, Society for Conservation of Nature, says, “The ecology of wetland is enriched by fish that depend on plankton in the younger stage. With age and growth, these tend to feed on larger prey. Such kind of activity keeps the wetlands healthy. If the fish disappear, so will many birds that feed on them and the situation is almost the same with the rest of the wetlands and water bodies of the region.”
Sujoy Banerjee, a wildlife official, says that the declining population of migratory birds can be mainly attributed to pollution, change in crop patterns and habitat loss.
“There has been a major decline in the number of bar-headed geese, grey leg geese, tern, gull, red crested poachard and lesser whistling teel visiting Chambal river over the last few decades. Earlier, we had around 25,000 to 30,000 of these birds seen in the river but now the number has gone down to about 1,000-2,000,” he stated.
There are a total number of nine wetlands in Etawah district and around 12 in bordering Mainpuri district and most of them are being drained out and levelled to make way for developmental projects in the region.
The local people blame the reduction in number of migratory birds on poachers and the Baheliya community. “These people trap the birds and sell them. Birds are sensitive and a loss in their population is immediately understood,” says Arvind, a local villager.