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103 species of winged visitors recorded in Pong Dam

The findings have been revealed in 2-day long annual waterfowl count at the Pong Dam wetlands which concluded on 29 January

103 species of winged visitors recorded in Pong Dam

There is an overall increase of 5026 birds as compared to last year. (Photo: SNS)

As many as 103 species of winged visitors have been recorded at Pong Dam wetlands in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, witnessing a considerable decline as compared to last year when 117 species were recorded. The number of birds witnessed an increase to 1.15 lakh as compared to 1.1 lakh recorded during 2018 waterfowl count.

The findings have been revealed in 2-day long annual waterfowl count at the Pong Dam wetlands which concluded on 29 January.

The Principal Conservator of Forests cum Wild Life warden Dr Savita said 115229 birds of 103 different species have been recorded at Pong Dam Lake this year.

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These include 1,04,230 migratory waterfowls of 58 species, 10,231 resident water birds of 29 species and 16 other local species of birds constituting 768 numbers.

The dominant species recorded at the Pong Dam reservoir are Bar Headed Geese (29443), Northern Pintails (17934), Common Pochards (17742), Eurasian Coots (16313), Common Teals (7918), Great Cormorants (5600), Eurasian Wigeons (1481), Gadwals (1408), Greylag Geese (1249) and Ruddy Shelducks (1164).

Other uncommon bird species recorded in the lake are Common Shelducks (52), Northern Lapwings (39), Common Mergansers (31), Greater White-fronted Geese (24), Water Pipits (22), Pied Avocets (06), Ospreys (05), Black-bellied Terns (02,. Sarus Cranes (04), Eurasian Curtews (02), White-tailed Lapwings (02), Lesser White-fronted Goose (O1), Comon Ringed Plover (O1) and Hen Harrier (01).

The population of wetland birds have shown increase from last year (2017-18) when the total count was recorded as 1,10,203 of 62 Migratory water fowls and 29 species 51 water fowls.

There is an overall increase of 5026 winged guests as compared to last year.

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