KANPUR: Here’s piece of good news for bird lovers in the region. A recent census by the Wetlands International South Asia (WISA) has claimed that a good monsoon rainfall last year attracted a large number of migratory birds to the Saman bird sanctuary in Mainpuri this winter.WISA is an international organisation working for the conservation of wetlands and winged creatures.Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) 2019, was carried out in the wetlands of Saman bird sanctuary in Mainpuri from January 14 to 22 in collaboration with the National Chambal Sanctuary Project, Agra. It was found that 46 species (25 species of resident species and 21 species of winter migratory species, including 6 species of IUCN Red-listed Threatened birds) have increased manifold.In 2018, the figure stood at 1,907, while it rose to 4,828 in 2019, said TK Roy, coordinator for AWC Delhi of the organisation.“Among the major winter migratory water birds spotted in Saman bird sanctuary are common teal and northern pintail , which migrate from North Asia, followed by graylag geese, bar-headed geese which migrates from central Asia and great white pelican, which is an Indian migratory species,”Roy told TOI.Similarly, six birds that have been declared threatened species by IUCN Red list, including black-necked stork, painted stork, sarus crane, black-headed ibis , black-tailed godwit and oriental darter were also spotted in abundance. These birds come under winter migratory species/Indian resident, category.The sanctuary is located in Mainpuri district and includes several smaller wetlands which are an ideal habitat for water birds. It’s one among 467 IBA sites in the country (important bird & biodiversity area) designated by the Birdlife International having rich birdlife diversity.“Good rainfall in last monsoon revived several smaller wetlands of the sanctuary to a great extent and it attracted large a number of long distance winter migratory water birds this winter compared to previous years,” he said.“During the census, number of around 46 species — 25 resident and 21 of winter migratory birds, including six of IUCN Red-listed threatened category — went up from 1,907 to 4,828 as compared to last year,” he added.Roy said global climate change impact as well several other factors, including local or regional climatic conditions, disturbances and degrading wetland habitats, human threats and biotic pressure affect migration of long distance winter migratory water birds.He said Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) was carried out as per the international protocol of Wetlands International on waterbird monitoring methodology.

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