Decline in number of winged visitors to Delhi zoo

NEW DELHI - From a few thousands in the 1980s to a few hundreds now, the number of migratory birds visiting Delhi zoo in winter has dropped drastically. The reasons, officials say are pollution, global warming and frequent bombings in conflict zones along their flight path.

According to officials at the National Zoological Park, over 5,000 migratory birds belonging to more than 16 species used to visit the sprawling zoo in 1980s. The number has dropped drastically now. Only 500-odd birds belonging to five-eight species are visiting the park nowadays, they said.

“Before 1980, birds belonging to 30 different species used to flock Delhi during the winter, but now there is a fall in the number of winged visitors. A further decline in their number is possible,” a zoo official said.

Pintail ducks, Shovellar ducks, Common teals, Coots, Siberian ducks and storks have come from Siberia this winter. The Grey lag goose and a few other varieties from Southeast Asian regions visit the Delhi zoo in search of food and shelter as their home grounds get frozen.

Speaking to IANS, Riaz Khan, zoo curator, said, “Only five to eight species are visiting this year. Several exotic migratory birds like Siberian cranes, Brahminy duck (mostly from Ladakh), Mallard, red-crested and white-crested Pochard, white stork, Common teal (smallest dabbling duck in the world) have not been visiting Delhi zoo for the last few years.”

He said pollution, lack of food and global warming are a few causes that led to the decline in numbers.

“Escaping harsh cold in their habitats, these winged visitors fly from Iran, Iraq via Afghanistan to reach Pakistan. They then fly to Delhi via the Himalayas and Kashmir. But with frequent bombings in military conflict zones and pollution break the the route they usually take,” Khan said.

“Flying thousands of miles to warm regions, these birds travel long distances during nights than day as they navigate by the moon and stars.”

Explaining, he said the birds start their migration right after sunset, and continue until about 2 a.m. Migration peaks between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m.

Several local migratory birds (within India) like painted storks, Indian wag tail, large pied wag tail, grey and yellow wag tail, Indian sand lark, white ibis, Blue throat, tailor bird and whistling duck are abundantly found in Delhi zoo.

However, hosting these special guests is not an easy task. These migratory birds travel for weeks together to reach Delhi and they are hungry. Their food includes fish, paddy and insects.

“In a single day, a pelican or a stork can eat about 30-40 kg of fish while other birds are fond of insects, and paddy and other grains,” Khan said.

The Delhi zoo with pleasant weather conditions and food availability proves to be an ideal habitat for these guests.

To watch the activities of these foreign visitors, the zoo has made arrangements such as a watch tower near the Pelican pond for bird watchers, students and environmentalists.

Of the three ponds in the zoo, one filled with fish is called the Pelican pond. Apart from this, the zoo has a lake too, which is not accessible to the visitors.

The zoo official said, “Some birds have already arrived. But as the temperature dips, more birds would arrive. One should visit the zoo during January to February to see the maximum visitors.”

(Prathiba Raju can be contacted at prathiba.r@ians.in)