HYDERABAD: Sindh Wildlife Department’s annual waterfowl survey reveals that eight new species of migratory birds, which had never been seen in the province, visited Sindh along with 41 regularly visiting species of waterfowls last year.

SWD chief Javed Mahar said that according to the survey, in 2022-23, around 613,000 birds landed on natural water bodies, including freshwater lakes of Keenjhar, Manchhar, Hamal, Haleji, Run of Kutch, Port Qasim besides 24 other spots. SWD teams gathered the data during December-February period.

“The survey shows that Indus’ flyway remains intact and many travelers [birds] are constantly using it, which is a pretty positive sign for us,” he said. SWD has been releasing annually since 1998 waterfowl survey about the birds which descend on natural waters.

“These birds settle on new spots in addition to their conventional abodes and it is basically due to widespread flooding in Sindh. Birds found water flows at many locations,” said the survey.

Says they were among 41 regularly visiting migratory bird species

Most of birds were noticed in Nareri lake in Badin where their number was counted at 100,766 while 158,306 were found in Run of Kuch, 41,112 birds in Port Qasim, 16,789 were seen in Manchhar lake.

The new species of birds included knob-billed duck, Indian spot-billed duck, black stork, lesser flamingo, pin-tailed snipe, parasitic Jaeger, crested Jaeger and cotton teal besides 41 regularly visiting waterfowls.

“The number of birds last year was 61,000 on their conventional sites and this year their number was 13,000. But this doesn’t mean the number has dropped. There is always strong possibility that when the teams visited the sites the birds must be in the air and landed there after the teams had left,” he said.

He said that new species in the area was a good sign from environmental point of view as well. This survey also shows that new species are arriving through these routes. “Therefore, we need to value water,” he said.

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2023