Bird Census Reveals Threats to Wetlands

A recent bird census, coordinated with Wetlands International South Asia and utilizing the eBird platform, documented over 15,500 birds across 101 species at Okhla Bird Sanctuary. Among the findings were nearly 9,000 ducks and coots, alongside various gull species. Despite these significant numbers, birdwatchers expressed concerns about pressing local threats that endanger the sanctuary's avian population.

These threats include pervasive river water pollution, particularly from the Yamuna, kite strings, cattle grazing, and the dumping of construction and plastic waste. Similar issues of waste dumping were identified at Surajpur wetlands, where over 6,000 birds of 83 species were recorded. Birders emphasized that even small protections can help ecosystems thrive, urging for more official recognition for wetlands.

The census also covered a 22-km stretch of the Yamuna floodplain, counting over 9,000 birds. Major threats identified here included sand mining, habitat degradation, construction waste, and declining water quality from sewage and agrochemical runoff. Future censuses are planned for other wetlands, continuing the annual effort coordinated across several countries.