Every year, there is a noticeable rise in the number of migrating birds in Sindh’s water bodies; this year, the province wildlife agency has identified 11 new species.
In all, 639,122 birds have been counted at nearly 30 locations, including Keenjhar Lake, Manchhar Lake, Hamal Lake, Haleji Lake, Rann of Kutch, Langh Lake, and Nariri Lagoon, according to the annual waterfowl census of 2023–2024.
The yearly census was carried out by the Sindh Wildlife Department (SWD) survey team throughout the two-month period of January to February.
Eleven new species, including the Bar-headed Goose, Indian Spot-Billed Duck, Lesser Flamingo, Cotton Pygmy Goose, Oriental Darter, Asian Woolly Necked Stork, Red-naped Ibis, Black-headed Ibis, Black-necked Grebe, Indian Cormorant, and Jack Snipe, were discovered during the survey and were first observed in the province.
The topic of this year’s World Wildlife Day celebration, which falls on Sunday, March 3, is “Connecting people and planet” and “Exploring digital innovation in wildlife conservation.”
According to the survey, the 70 species spotted include, Bar headed goose, Indian spot bill duck, Lesser Whistling duck, Northern Pintail, Ferruginous duck, Common Pochard, Eurasian Wigeon, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Common teal, Northern Shoveler, Gargany, Marbled Duck, Common shel duck, Cotton Pygmy Goose, Oriental Darter, White strok, Black strok, Asian woolly necked strok, Red Naped Ibis, Black Headed ibis, Common crane, Eurasian Spoonbill, Dalmatian Pelican, Great White Pelican, Lesser flamingo, Great flamingo, Pied avocet, Common red shank, Common greenshank, Bar tailed godwit, Eurasian curlew, Eurasian whimbrel, Black tailed godwit, Baillon’s crake, Little crake, Little grebe, Black necked grebe, Great crested grebe, Common Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Little ringed plover, Little stint, Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, Sanderling, Black bellied tern, Gull billed tern, Whiskered tern, Lesser Crested tern, Jack snip, Pintail snipe, Indian Cormorant, Great Cormorant, Glossy Ibis, Eurasian Coot, Small pratincole, Collared Pratincole, Oriental pratincole, Great egret, Grey plover and Pacific Golden Plover have been recorded in the annual survey.
Based on the statistics, the Badin district of the coastal belt was found to be a better place for birds, with 168,964 recorded at Nariri Lagoon and 117,790 observed in the Rann of Kutch area.
According to SWD’s provincial director, Javed Ahmed Mahar, new species validate the department’s conservation efforts, creating a tranquil and perfect habitat for the birds. “We are pleased that more birds are visiting Sindh every year, and this survey has revealed new species,” he said.
Additionally, he mentioned that the department was commemorating “World Wildlife Day.”
He stated, “We are already working on the theme,” giving instances of how to use digital platforms to improve wildlife conservation. He continued, “We use digital platforms to keep people informed and raise awareness about wildlife and its importance.”
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