65 species of water birds spotted (The Hindu 21 February 2011)

Seasonal delight: Migratory birds seen at the Okhla Bird Sanctuary in Delhi.
NEW DELHI: As many as 65 species of water birds, including the ferruginous pochard and the black-tailed godwit, which are listed as nearly threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, were recorded in the Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) that was recently carried out by Wetlands International, South Asia Division, in Delhi. Most of these birds were spotted at the Okhla Bird Sanctuary on the banks of the Yamuna.
The census, which adopts a scientific research to arrive at data for planning and strategic policy for conservation of wetlands and migratory water birds globally, carried out the exercise through a team of dedicated volunteer birders led by Delhi AWC coordinator Tarun K. Roy.
According to the census, while some of the rare species presented themselves, the most attractive of the tall birds, the greater flamingos, gave Delhi a miss this winter. “The wader species were not attracted as the marshlands and smaller islands were almost submerged due to high water-level in the sanctuary. Only two different flocks of black-tailed godwit and Eurasian spoonbill, managed to find a small island habitat,” Mr. Roy said.
While the arrival of certain birds, like the gray-leg geese, common teals and black-headed and brown-headed gulls was more than in the previous years, it were the northern shovelers (3,218 against 484 last year) and common coots (1,838 against 231 last year), which arrived in abundance.
Another reason for cheer was the first sighting of a white coot in India. Incidentally, this was also only the third time that such a bird has been spotted anywhere in the world in the recent past.
Noting that some prominent migratory species, like the great white pelican, the comb duck and the mallard have not been migrating since 2009, whereas the Asian open-billed stork, the black stork and the black-necked stork have not come since 2008, Mr. Roy said the arrival of the little blue kingfisher and the black-tailed godwit this time was recorded after many years.
Stating that the Yamuna river habitat has become degraded ecologically as well physically due to human exploitation for seasonal vegetable cultivation, huge development works like construction of bridges and roads along riverbeds and fishing in the river, the report of the AWC calls for preserving of the habitat to ensure better arrivals in the future as well.