Rejecting the celebration of World Migratory Bird Day at a time when no
migrant birds could be spotted in India, a section of ornithologists is
pitching for an exclusive Indian version of the occasion.
The theme of the 2012 celebrations, organised between May 12 and 13, was “migratory birds and people — together through time.”
The day is celebrated during the second week of May with “public events
such as bird festivals, education programmes, and bird-watching
excursions to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day and to help raise
awareness around a specific theme,” say the organisers of the day.
United Nations Environment Programme's (UNEP) two international treaties
— Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals
and the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement — are the
organisers.
The migratory season in India begins in September and extends up to
April and nearly 600 species of birds can be spotted at various
locations in the country. Most of these come from the north of Himalayas
from countries namely Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Magnolia,
and the Siberian region. The major wintering grounds are Chilka Lake,
Bharatpur, East Calcutta Wetlands, Harike Lake, Kolleru Lake, Loktak
Lake, Point Calimere, and Sambhar Lake. Some of the important long
distance-migrants that reach the country during the eight-month-long
season are White Stork, Bar headed Goose, Northern Pintail, and Eurasian
Wigeon, experts say.
