Naresh Mitra, TNN May 10, 2013
GUWAHATI: The Deepor Beel, a Ramsar site wetland located about 15 km from the city, continues to surprise bird lovers despite the threat posed by urban sprawl as various species of birds are still seen at the wetland.
On Tuesday, a flock of Glossy Ibis (plegadis falcinellus), was spotted at the wetland for the first time. Though glossy ibis is a residential bird in Assam, bird watchers and ornithologists say that there is no record of this bird species being spotted at Deepor Beel in the past.
"Spotting a group of glossy ibis at Deepor Beel is indeed a new development. There is no past record of the bird being spotted at the wetland in the recent past. Glossy Ibis are mainly seen in the major wetlands of upper Assam and in the Pani-Dihing bird sanctuary in Sivasagar district," Anwaruddin Choudhury, who has authored numerous books on birds of the northeast, said.
The flock of birds seen at the wetland comprised about 25 birds, birdwatchers who spotted Glossy Ibis at Deepor Beel said. "In my two decades of observing birds and recording bird species at Deepor Beel, I haven't spotted any glossy ibis in this wetland," Lakhon Teron, a birdwatcher and nature guide, who resides near Deepor Beel, said.
"The spotting of a new bird species at the wetland speaks of the dynamic ecosystem of Deepor Beel, which needs the highest level of ecological protection. There has to be proper awareness on the conservation of the wetland," ecologist Parimal Chandra Bhattacharya said.
Last winter, six rosy pelicans were spotted at the wetland after a long gap. Rosy and spot-billed pelicans used to frequent Deepor Beel during winter earlier, but these and several other birds had stopped migrating to Deepor Beel.
Close to Deepor Beel at Garbhanga reserved forest, the volunteers of Help Earth, a city-based wildlife conservation NGO, on Saturday spotted luna moth (actias luna), one of the largest moth species in the world. It is very rare to spot a luna moth in the state. Last year, the moth was seen at Abhoypur Reserve Forest at Sonari in Sivasagar district.
Though spotting a new and rare species in forest areas within the city indicates a rich ecosystem, both Deepor Beel and Garbhanga are threatened by urban expansion and habitat destruction. While deforestation is a major problem in Garbhanga, the increasing construction activities close of Deepor Beel and pollution have emerged as the biggest dangers to the wetland. Conservationists said seepage of pollutants from a nearby municipal dumping site is a potent threat to the wetland ecosystem.
Source: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-05-10/flora-fauna/39168598_1_deepor-beel-bird-species-wetland
GUWAHATI: The Deepor Beel, a Ramsar site wetland located about 15 km from the city, continues to surprise bird lovers despite the threat posed by urban sprawl as various species of birds are still seen at the wetland.
On Tuesday, a flock of Glossy Ibis (plegadis falcinellus), was spotted at the wetland for the first time. Though glossy ibis is a residential bird in Assam, bird watchers and ornithologists say that there is no record of this bird species being spotted at Deepor Beel in the past.
"Spotting a group of glossy ibis at Deepor Beel is indeed a new development. There is no past record of the bird being spotted at the wetland in the recent past. Glossy Ibis are mainly seen in the major wetlands of upper Assam and in the Pani-Dihing bird sanctuary in Sivasagar district," Anwaruddin Choudhury, who has authored numerous books on birds of the northeast, said.
The flock of birds seen at the wetland comprised about 25 birds, birdwatchers who spotted Glossy Ibis at Deepor Beel said. "In my two decades of observing birds and recording bird species at Deepor Beel, I haven't spotted any glossy ibis in this wetland," Lakhon Teron, a birdwatcher and nature guide, who resides near Deepor Beel, said.
"The spotting of a new bird species at the wetland speaks of the dynamic ecosystem of Deepor Beel, which needs the highest level of ecological protection. There has to be proper awareness on the conservation of the wetland," ecologist Parimal Chandra Bhattacharya said.
Last winter, six rosy pelicans were spotted at the wetland after a long gap. Rosy and spot-billed pelicans used to frequent Deepor Beel during winter earlier, but these and several other birds had stopped migrating to Deepor Beel.
Close to Deepor Beel at Garbhanga reserved forest, the volunteers of Help Earth, a city-based wildlife conservation NGO, on Saturday spotted luna moth (actias luna), one of the largest moth species in the world. It is very rare to spot a luna moth in the state. Last year, the moth was seen at Abhoypur Reserve Forest at Sonari in Sivasagar district.
Though spotting a new and rare species in forest areas within the city indicates a rich ecosystem, both Deepor Beel and Garbhanga are threatened by urban expansion and habitat destruction. While deforestation is a major problem in Garbhanga, the increasing construction activities close of Deepor Beel and pollution have emerged as the biggest dangers to the wetland. Conservationists said seepage of pollutants from a nearby municipal dumping site is a potent threat to the wetland ecosystem.
Source: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-05-10/flora-fauna/39168598_1_deepor-beel-bird-species-wetland
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