RAWALPINDI:
Migratory birds from Siberia have started flocking into the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, adding to the beauty of areas around waterbodies and wetlands. Unfortunately, extensive construction and the disappearance of lakes and water bodies have forced these visiting birds to seek shelter in the trees lining the polluted Nullah Leh.
These feathered guests make an annual journey to warmer places, seeking respite from the harsh cold of Siberia. They are expected to stay in the region until April next year. In the past, Rawalpindi and Islamabad offered an ideal habitat for these birds, with their canals, dams, ponds, and forests. Regrettably, these natural features have dwindled due to urban development.
Experts estimate that approximately one million birds from Siberia visit Pakistan, going as far as its coastal areas, between September and November. The migratory birds include a variety of species like herons, coots, grouse, cranes, pintails, mallards, geese, waders, and others. They follow International Migratory Bird Route No 4, covering a flight distance of about 4,000 to 5,000 km to reach Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
These birds are commonly sighted in locations such as Ayub Park, Soan River, Jhelum River, Chan Dam, Chontra River, Rawal Dam, Margalla Hills, Lohi Bhir, and other areas.
Their presence is growing daily, and it has a positive impact on the local environment.
They play a crucial role in pest control in agriculture and provide natural fertilisers to the land through their droppings.
Bird enthusiasts relish the opportunity to observe these birds in the mornings and evenings when they create harmonious patterns midair. Some camp at Ayub Park and other designated places to witness their arrival. However, there is a need for the government to make special arrangements during the arrival of these migratory birds to ensure they have access to sufficient food and measures to safeguard their health.
Zameer, a resident of Gawal Mandi living near the banks of Nullah Leh, expressed his delight in seeing the visiting birds, particularly in the mornings and evenings when they fill the air with their pleasant chirps. Zameer noted that these birds are exceptionally beautiful and distinct from the local avian population.
They often forage for food on the canal banks, but such feeding habits can be detrimental to their health, he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 28th, 2023.
