There’s no water this winter in Bharatpur so no birds have landed

A few Rudy Shelducks from Ladhakh, a Northern Shoveller from Russia, some Common Teal from Europe and a Black-headed stork from Siberia.

Migratory birds have skipped the Keoladeo National Park, abode of over 370 rare species, because there’s no water here.

Every September, thousands of migratory water-fowl from Afghanistan, Central Asia, Tibet, China and Siberia arrive here. According to official data, about 70,000 migratory birds came last year. “(This time) the numbers are negligible. There are rarely any water-birds in the park. The flamingos, pintails, painted stork and pelicans which come in flocks are all missing,” said Sunayan Sharma, director, Keoladeo National Park.

Of the 29 sq km of the park, 11 sq-km area is marshy and needs about 500 million cubic feet of water. The source of water used to be a canal from the Ajan band, a reservoir constructed about 250 years ago. However, due to the opposition from residents of Karoli village who, too, wanted water, the supply stopped three years ago.

“Rare species of migratory birds have missed their annual date with Bharatpur wildlife sanctuary this time due to the absence of water in the catchment area of the wetland. The monsoon season had been bad this year. The dearth of water has affected the vegetation and that’s why they have gone to other places,” said R N Mehrotra, chief wildlife warden of Rajasthan.

To support the birds, two bore-wells have been dug and five pumps have been installed.

“A project is pending for bringing water from Chambal to Bharatpur.

If it is successfully implemented, the park could be revived.

Bore-well water cannot sustain natural vegetation so there is a need for an immediate solution,” said Faiyaz Khudsar, a wildlife biologist.

Official guides in the park are left with no option now but to talk to the visitors about the local birds. “We are showing the tourists kingfisher and robin,” said S S Patel, a guide in the park for the last eight years and never seen such a situation.

Bipasha Roy Chowdhury, a teacher from Kokata, is disappointed. “This is the first time we have come here with lots of hope but it’s sad to see the condition of the park,” she said.

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