Birds that migrate and Loktak Lake

Meghalaya: Loktak Lake and Migratory Birds For the inhabitants of Manipur, Loktak Lake is not merely a source of income but also a mother and a deity. It is where Manipuri culture and civilization originated.

Birds that migrate, especially those from Siberia, have begun to swarm Loktak Lake and the smaller lakes and marshlands that surround it. A variety of ducks and several migrating species have arrived at Loktak Lake. Many migrating species use the lake as a nesting place. The only freshwater lake in the Northeastern region, Loktak, attracts over thirty rare migratory birds, especially in the winter months of November, December, and January. These birds are from Siberia, mainland Russia, and the Himalayan range, and they include brahmani duck/ruddy duck, pochard, red-legged falcon, geese, snipe, and shiri.

Yet, the dramatic decline in these birds’ population over the past few years worries environmentalists. It is said that in the past few years, only around 20 different kinds of aquatic birds have visited the lake. The causes of the dramatic fall are overhunting, a slow degradation of the habitat, and climate change.

Ten years ago, groups of birds that frequented the lake included ukong, gulls, red-legged falcons, and others. These days, the birds are rarely spotted there. About thirty gulls were last observed gathering at the Pumlen Pat some years ago. However, conservationists have noted that this bird no longer makes its home at the Pat. The red-legged falcons that migrated to Loktak from the Siberian lakes have now relocated to the banks of the Barak, Makru, and Irang rivers.

This bird will stay until December, at which point it will go to lakes in Sri Lanka, south India, etc. Manipur’s unique biodiversity has been endangered by deforestation, urbanization, and pesticide usage to suit the demands of a rising population along with climate change. This has resulted in the extinction of several fish and bird species. The biggest freshwater lake in South Asia, Loktak Lake in Manipur, is home to migratory water birds, and ornithologists are disappointed to have seen fewer flying visitors this year.

Last week, Loktak and the Keibul Lamjao National Park (KLNP) were included in the census, which was conducted by the Bombay Natural History Society with assistance from the Loktak Development Authority, the Environment and Climate Change Department of Manipur, and others.KLNP,The centerpiece of the head count was the world’s biggest floating park, Sangai, which is home to the endangered and uncommon brow-antlered deer.Each of the 50 locations in Loktak and Keibul Lamjao was visited by four ornithologists using telescopic cameras and binoculars as part of the census activities, according to the state coordinator of the Indian Bird Conservation Network (IBCN). The head count was backed by researchers and students as well. The team expects the overall bird count to be fewer than 12,000, with a notable decline in species by about 10, even though the final census result is still waiting.

When compared to earlier statistics, which showed that over 20,000 birds of over 20 species were observed, and in some years, over 30,000 birds were observed, this decrease is depressing.Nonetheless, all of the local species of waterfowl, including coot, pheasant tail jacana, and lesser whistling ducks, were still visible. Several migratory bird species were counted during the census, including ferruginous pochards, gadwalls, and coots. However, Baer’s pochards, which are native to Mongolia and have been observed at Keibul Lamjao in past years, were noticeably absent.