(IN): Bird sanctuary under threat

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Link: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090121/jsp/guwahati/story_10417703.jsp

Bird sanctuary under threat

- Wildlife group finds fewer important birds at JangdiaA STAFF REPORTER

 

*Jan. 20:* An important bird area on the outskirts of the city is fast

losing its feathered friends.

 

Not many have heard of Jangdia near Dirgheswari temple in north Guwahati,

but those who go there are not happy as the number and variety of birds are

on the decline.

 

The 500-hectare Jangdia, located 25km from Guwahati, was designated as an

important bird area (IBA) in 2003. An important bird area is globally

considered to be a vital habitat for the conservation of birds.

 

A five-member team of Early Birds, a wildlife NGO, that visited the area a

few days ago, was shocked to find that only a few important birds could be

seen in the area.

 

" Only a few important birds, including two pallas's fish-eagle, a common

kestrel, a pied harrier, rufous-winged bushlark, a few paddyfield pipit and

one zitting cisticola were found, " Early Birds president Moloy Baruah said.

 

He said excessive cultivation in the marginal area, with diesel engine

pumping out water from the *beel*, was one of the reasons for the fall in

the population of birds.

 

Another source of worry is shooting with guns and trapping of birds with net

at night.

 

Baruah said his NGO arranges lectures and distributes leaflets, but it is

difficult to stop the shooting and trapping of birds without the

intervention of legal authority.

 

" This is not good for the site. If no action is taken, very soon no birds

would come here, " he said, adding that if a place has been designated as an

important bird area, efforts should be stepped up to maintain its status.

 

Local residents are also worried at the setting up of two brick kilns in the

periphery of the site as it will lead to both air and noise pollution.

 

With the scope of employment limited in the area, fishing in the water body

has become a major occupation. " Fishing is not done scientifically which

damages the water body, " a member of the Early Birds team said.

 

Siltation from the Brahmaputra during floods is also posing a threat to the

*beel*.

 

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