Islamabad. A substantial decrease in the number of migratory birds was witnessed in the capital this winter due to massive tree cutting and human interference deep into their temporary habitats.
The birds have a special fly zone that leads to Pakistan commonly known as Indus Flyway Zone
The experts opined that Rawal Lake is one of the major water bodies that used to receive a large number of migratory birds, but this had not been the case during this winter season and even birds like pheasant that eat those plants having germs harmful to the human health were seen in very low number.
They said one fourth of the birds come from other regions of the world, including Siberia, who like to stay near Rawal Lake and always provide a unique experience to birdwatchers. “Now the number of birdwatchers has also decreased as according to them many species of birds avoided to turn to this city for a number of reasons,” they said.
The birds have a special fly zone that leads to Pakistan commonly known as Indus Flyway Zone. There are, however, seven fly zones all over the world. The birds reach Pakistan flying over Karakorum, Suleiman ranges and Hindukush along the Indus River.
The Indus Flyway Zone is one of the seven routes around the globe birds use to escape severe weather conditions, and feed and breed in some cases. Migratory birds escape harsh cold in Russia and China and travel more than 4,500 kilometres to enter Pakistan from the north and following the mighty Indus River all the way down to the south, stopping at more than 300 water bodies and wetlands dotting the land. Cranes, ducks-mallards, common pochards, common teal, northern pintail, northern shoveler, cormorant, snipes, stints, plovers, gulls and score of other birds fly to Pakistan every winter.
The experts also pointed out that military action in Pakistan and Afghanistan might have rendered the natural flight routes of these birds unsafe.
“The journey of migratory birds, especially water fowls, starts from Siberia and ends in South Asia. This is a 4,500-km journey, during which the birds stay at different water bodies. Their route might have been disturbed and if this is the case then we can say most of these birds have changed their routes,” they said.
sources: thenews.com.pk
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