Around 12,000 migratory birds are estimated to have arrived at the Sultanpur National Park (Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary), located at Sultanpur village on Gurugram-Jhajjar highway, Gurugram, this winter season, Forest (Wildlife) Department officials said on Sunday.

While talking to The Pioneer, Sultanpur National Park (wildlife) Inspector Rajesh Chahal said that the arrival of avian guests was late this season because of the delay in onset of the winter season. Migratory birds of around 250 species from different countries, including Siberia, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Russia and other parts of the world arrive at Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary every year after water bodies get frozen at their native places in winter. Winged birds which arrive here stay till March and April, he said, adding that the teams have been deputed for undertaking round-the-clock patrolling at Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary to check poaching of migratory birds. Some habitat management works like removal of unwanted weeds from water bodies, release of fish fingerlings to provide feed to birds among others are carried out at Sultanpur National Park.

Chahal further said that Sultanpur National Park has reported around 12,000 migratory birds, a decrease of 20-30 per cent birds this season. The exact number of the arrival of migratory birds will be known after the census exercise of water birds is conducted this month. The wetlands at Chandu, Basai and Najafgarh have also seen a drop in the number of birds by 40 per cent, he added.

Another wildlife officer said that the number of migratory birds had come down in many other areas including Bharatpur and Okhla. One of the reasons for this could be the change in temperature levels. “These birds come from cold regions like Siberia, Central Asia and Europe and the decreased migration could be attributable to the fact that the winter is not cold enough here to force them out of the region. If the birds still find food there, they won’t migrate. However, the temperature here has not come down to suit their pattern. We thought the temperature would go down the last two days, but it has remained intact,” he added.

Chahal further said that the Sultanpur Park had earlier recorded around 250 bird species. The park with an area of 1.42 sq km, is not only a national park and wildlife sanctuary but also a Ramsar site since 2021. It serves as a habitat to rare species of migratory water birds during the winter season. “Migratory birds of around 90 species from different countries include Grey leg geese, Bar headed geese, Northern Pintail, Northern shoveler, Gadwal, Eurasian wigeon, Gargeney , Mallard, Common pochard, Tufted pochard, White eye pochard, Eurasian coot, Spoonbill, Glossy ibis, Black headed ibis, Black neck stork, Sarus crane, Painted stork, Large Egret, Intermediate Egret, Small Egret, Darter, Cormorant, Hornbill, Booted Eagle, Brown Hawk owl and others have sported this season.”

“Sultanpur Park is protected while Basai, Chandu and Najafgarh are not. There is a disturbance in these smaller wetlands due to increased human activities and interference, and the number of migratory birds here has come down drastically,” Chahal added.

Migratory birds start coming in by the first week of October and around 22,000 birds visit Sultanpur Park every year by the end of January. However, this year, it could be much lower. We are waiting for an increase in the birds at the lake in the coming days, he added.

When contacted, Haryana Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF), Wildlife, ML Rajvanshi said that India is one of the most favourable landscapes for varied bird species to breed and nurture in particular seasons. The temperatures in Haryana make it a suitable landscape for migratory birds coming from harsh climates of Siberia and other parts of the world, he added.