32,000 migratory birds visit Loktak lake in Manipur

, Feb 15: More than 32,000

including 18 different species of migratory birds were sighted during the recent headcount at Loktak lake in

's Bishenpur district. The bird count was conducted on January 18 under the auspices of Wildlife Wing of state forest department, Deputy Conservator of Forest (Park and Sanctuary) L Joykumar said after releasing a report on bird count here yesterday.

The Wildlife Wing has been counting wild birds annually since 2011. This year the bird count was conducted from 50 vantage points of Loktak and surrounding lakes, said the official. Altogether 32,853 wild birds including different species were sighted during this year's bird count.

Never-seen-before birds were spotted at the lake this year, said an official

Even though this year's figure was lower than last and previous years, never-seen species of birds were sighted this year, he said, adding that more than 34,000 birds were sighted last year. Out of around 60 species of wild birds sighted during the count, Whistling Teal locally known as Tingri was seen the most and altogether 14,000 Tingris were sighted, said Joykumar.

One area where the maximum number of wild birds flocked together was the northern side of the lake's Ningthoukhong sector, the report said pointing out that the number of birds seen this year was lower than previous year because of trapping and hunting of wild birds by some locals.

Environmentalist Kh Shamungou who was present also said that common crane was also sighted for the first time in Manipur during this year's bird count. Moreover, common Shelduck (local name Thangong Arangba), Glossy (Ibis Kakshu), Grey Leg Geese (Kanga) and Mandarin Duck (Sana Nganu) were also seen after a gap of many years, he said.

PTI