MEERUT: Come winter, the wetlands come alive with the cacophony of duck quacks as thousands of migratory birds travel here with the falling temperatures. According to a recent survey at the Bhikund Wetland in Meerut, around 10,000 birds of different species were recorded by bird lovers, accompanied by ornithologists and the forest department. Bar-headed Geese comprised the majority of birds here besides the Northern Shoveler, Asian and European Spoonbills, white and black Ibis, amon others.Meerut divisional forest officer (DFO) Rajesh Kumar tol TOI, "Bhikund Site has a rich biodiversity and this year, the numbers are better than before. However, the sites conservation is a challenge as only one hectare is with the government and the remaining 29 hectares is in private hands. Out of this, 20 hectares have some water conducive for the migratory breeding birds. We have asked the administration to acquire the landso that it can be managed in a better way." Dr Rajat Bhargava, a senior scientist at the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and an ornithologist, said, "The forest department and Meerut Conservation Society organised a walk with the aim of documenting migratory waterfowl and other species. Trainees from Forest Training Institute, Hastinapur along with birdwatchers on the 2-km walk along the Bhikund wetland documenting bird species." Bhargava said among the ducks, they saw Brahminy Duck, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail and Common Teal. "We estimated a 3,000 ducks of seven species. Apart from 500 cormorants and egrets, the team counted more than 1,000 waders."

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