More geese collared in Mongolia seen at Paradgaon
NAGPUR: After the NU collared bar-headed goose being sighted near Paradgaon lake on Umrer road for the last four years, three more such geese were spotted near the lake.
Two of them have been identified as K60 and X97 which were collared in Mongolia.
The NU goose was collared to study their migration patterns which fly over the Himalayas. The recently spotted geese had been collared in 2011 to study the spread of avian influenza virus (AIV) and recognize possible vulnerable areas where they could spread.
Tarun Balpande and Surendra Agnihotri who spotted the geese on the banks of Paradgaon said that this sighting proved that the lake is proving to be the chosen wintering ground for these migratory birds which travel around 4,000km to come here.
They said the reason for this is the amount of paddy and wheat fields around the lake. "These birds are pure vegetarians and love shoots. And they get a lot of it in the fields surrounding the lake. Also, the lake has red grass which they eat," said Balpande.
Agnihotri said that the banks of the lake might be another attraction for birds. "Many lakes don't have proper banks but in Paradgaon there are a lot of marshes with weeds growing in abundance which are liked by the bar-headed geese," he said.
While they have expressed their happiness and the importance of this sighting in further research, the bird watchers are worried about the future of the lake. "We have noticed that the water level in the lake has receded by around 25m. Apart from this, poaching and illegal fishing are rampant. This might bring down the already dwindling number of birds visiting the lake," said Agnihotri.
Dr Tarique Sani, a bird watcher of the city, said that it was a welcome news but he too pointed out the deterioration of the habitat saying that activities disturbing the region were rising fast.
"These birds form a pattern of their journeys which are hard to break. When the NU goose had come four years back for the first time, the lake was relatively undisturbed. But now, especially since the last one year, human interference has risen very much," he said.
Balpande said that it had become important that such birding hotspots be given protection too as they play an important part in the life cycle of migratory birds.
"Even the posting of one forest guard or police official to keep an eye on the illegal activities will help a lot," he said.
Two of them have been identified as K60 and X97 which were collared in Mongolia.
The NU goose was collared to study their migration patterns which fly over the Himalayas. The recently spotted geese had been collared in 2011 to study the spread of avian influenza virus (AIV) and recognize possible vulnerable areas where they could spread.
Tarun Balpande and Surendra Agnihotri who spotted the geese on the banks of Paradgaon said that this sighting proved that the lake is proving to be the chosen wintering ground for these migratory birds which travel around 4,000km to come here.
They said the reason for this is the amount of paddy and wheat fields around the lake. "These birds are pure vegetarians and love shoots. And they get a lot of it in the fields surrounding the lake. Also, the lake has red grass which they eat," said Balpande.
Agnihotri said that the banks of the lake might be another attraction for birds. "Many lakes don't have proper banks but in Paradgaon there are a lot of marshes with weeds growing in abundance which are liked by the bar-headed geese," he said.
While they have expressed their happiness and the importance of this sighting in further research, the bird watchers are worried about the future of the lake. "We have noticed that the water level in the lake has receded by around 25m. Apart from this, poaching and illegal fishing are rampant. This might bring down the already dwindling number of birds visiting the lake," said Agnihotri.
Dr Tarique Sani, a bird watcher of the city, said that it was a welcome news but he too pointed out the deterioration of the habitat saying that activities disturbing the region were rising fast.
"These birds form a pattern of their journeys which are hard to break. When the NU goose had come four years back for the first time, the lake was relatively undisturbed. But now, especially since the last one year, human interference has risen very much," he said.
Balpande said that it had become important that such birding hotspots be given protection too as they play an important part in the life cycle of migratory birds.
"Even the posting of one forest guard or police official to keep an eye on the illegal activities will help a lot," he said.
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