Srinagar, Dec 20: Part of world famous Hokesar wetland in Kashmir has frozen due to sub-zero temperature, forcing thousands of migratory birds to move out to the wetlands in neighbouring Punjab.
The famous Hokesar wetland near Srinagar spread over an area of over 10 sq. km, consisting of marshland and lake, is home to thousands of migratory birds from China and Central Asia during winter.
'This year we had about five lakh migratory birds in Hokesar. These birds include Brahminy duck, tufted duck, gadwall, garganey, graylag goose, mallard, northern pintail, red-crested pochard, ruddy shelduck, common teal and Eurasian wigeon,' A. K. Singh, chief wildlife warden of Jammu and Kashmir, told IANS.
'It was, in fact, a beautiful sight watching a variety of migratory birds in such large numbers,' Singh said.
'The sub-zero temperature in and around the city has frozen some parts of the wetlands, forcing large number of these birds to move to other wetlands like Shalibug and Hygam which have not frozen and to wetlands of neighbouring Punjab,' he said.
According to Singh, 'About two lakh of these birds have migrated to Harike wetland in Punjab, while some have moved out to lakes of dams, and some others to wetlands in Pakistani Punjab. This shifting is purely temporary and these migratory birds should return as the temperature rises in Kashmir.'
'Hokesar and the nearby wetlands and lakes in Kashmir still have a good number of migratory birds to attract tourists,' he added.
IANS
The famous Hokesar wetland near Srinagar spread over an area of over 10 sq. km, consisting of marshland and lake, is home to thousands of migratory birds from China and Central Asia during winter.
'This year we had about five lakh migratory birds in Hokesar. These birds include Brahminy duck, tufted duck, gadwall, garganey, graylag goose, mallard, northern pintail, red-crested pochard, ruddy shelduck, common teal and Eurasian wigeon,' A. K. Singh, chief wildlife warden of Jammu and Kashmir, told IANS.
'It was, in fact, a beautiful sight watching a variety of migratory birds in such large numbers,' Singh said.
'The sub-zero temperature in and around the city has frozen some parts of the wetlands, forcing large number of these birds to move to other wetlands like Shalibug and Hygam which have not frozen and to wetlands of neighbouring Punjab,' he said.
According to Singh, 'About two lakh of these birds have migrated to Harike wetland in Punjab, while some have moved out to lakes of dams, and some others to wetlands in Pakistani Punjab. This shifting is purely temporary and these migratory birds should return as the temperature rises in Kashmir.'
'Hokesar and the nearby wetlands and lakes in Kashmir still have a good number of migratory birds to attract tourists,' he added.
IANS
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