Himachal Pradesh: Number of migratory birds increases in Pong wetlands

DHARAMASALA: The wildlife in Himachal Pradesh has witnessed an increase in the number of migratory birds.
The increase was witnessed during routine weekly exercises at pong wetland in Kangra district by the forest department.
Migratory birds arrive here mostly during winters.
They start returning to their places during the first week of February or last week of January depending on the weather.Officials have claimed that three species of the birds have come here for the first time during the winters.
Final bird count will be released in the last week of January.
The department said that during the count on December 21, 2018 the number was 52,845 of 44 species. Then it increased to 56,360 from 49 species in last week of December.
During the third and fourth week of December, three species - Greater Flamingo, Pied Avocet, White-Tailed Lapwing and Temminck’s stint were seen for the first time at pong wetland.
“Three species are here for the first time during winters. The majority of the population of migratory birds is Bar-headed Goose, northern pintall and Common Coot” said Pardeep Thakur, conservator of the wildlife department.
High altitude bird species from China, Tibet, Mongolia, Iraq and Pakistan descend at Pong wetland every winter beginning October or November.
Pong Lake is spread over 307 square kilometer in this part of Himachal Pradesh.
It was declared a bird sanctuary in 1983, was given the status of wetland of national importance in 1994 and Ramsar site status in 2002.