Migratory birds arrive in Harike Bird Sanctuary

Harike (Punjab), Jan.9 (ANI): Migratory birds have arrived at the world famous Harike Bird wetland-cum-sanctuary, and are expected to remain till the month of March. They include geese and Siberian cranes.

Spread over 100 square miles, the Harike wetland is India's second largest bird sanctuary and home to rare species of avifauna, pelicans, flamingoes and Siberian cranes that arrive from different parts of Europe and northern Asia.

Over the years, there has been a dwindling of the migratory bird population due to climate change.

This year, the Department of Forests is reportedly planning to conduct a census of migratory birds with the help of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Sanjiv Tiwari, Divisional Forest Officer, said that compared to 2009-10, the 2010-11 winter season has seen an increase in the population of migratory birds, and added that the state and central governments are planning to launch several schemes to promote the Harike Bird Sanctuary as a tourist destination.

Jaspal Singh, Member of the Nature Care Society, an NGO said that Harike Pattan has assumed international importance as a breeding ground and habitat for a large variety of migratory birds.

He said that if government promotes this sanctuary, bird lovers would frequent it more. By Ravinder Singh Robin (ANI)