Walk at Okhla Barrage Bird Sanctuary today (Hindu 18 December 2011)

To create awareness about the need to save the city's bird species, avid bird watcher and Wildlife Preservation Society trustee Bikram Grewal will conduct a walk at the Okhla Barrage Bird Sanctuary at 7.30 a.m. on Sunday.
The walk seeks to encourage people from different walks of life to be more responsible when it comes to preserving the bird sanctuaries.
Boasting of a significant area of wetland, the Okhla Barrage Bird Sanctuary has been classified as an Important Bird Area and is home to over 20,000 water birds during winters.
Besides providing a breeding place to a variety of birds, the Okhla Barrage Bird Sanctuary also has extensive open water, reed beds and sandbanks.
Ecological degradation
Unfortunately, the variable flow of the Yamuna river means the number of birds is not always predictable. Another cause of concern is dumping of garbage that leads to ecological degradation.
A proficient author, Mr. Grewal's first book on Indian birds sold over 2,50,000 copies. He is also credited with writing several articles and papers on birds as well as on Indian wildlife.
He serves as a trustee of several wildlife-based institutions and is also acting as a consultant on eco-tourism.