The population of Bar-headed Goose has shown 68% increase in Pong Dam Wetlands, Himachal Pradesh

 Annual Waterfowl Estimation exercise was divided in two parts, first day on 30th Jan 2020 was for pre-count discussions & planning and actual count was carried out on 31th Jan. 2020 for monitoring the numerical size of bird’s population during the year 2019-20 in Pong Dam Wetland. Experts from various  organizations & Bird Groups viz. Birds of Himachal Pradesh, Himachal Bird Club,   International Wetland, Wildlife Institute Of India(WII) ,Dharamshala Bird Club and many wildlife enthusiasts, bird watchers, volunteers along with officials & officers from H.P.Forest Department, participated in this mega exercise.    Related Blogpost - Songbirds at Bharatpur || The Constant Orchestra of Keoladeo National Park

Annual Waterfowl Estimation exercise was divided in two parts, first day on 30th Jan 2020 was for pre-count discussions & planning and actual count was carried out on 31th Jan. 2020 for monitoring the numerical size of bird’s population during the year 2019-20 in Pong Dam Wetland. Experts from various  organizations & Bird Groups viz. Birds of Himachal Pradesh, Himachal Bird Club,   International Wetland, Wildlife Institute Of India(WII) ,Dharamshala Bird Club and many wildlife enthusiasts, bird watchers, volunteers along with officials & officers from H.P.Forest Department, participated in this mega exercise.



 Related Blogpost - Tiny Darts of Color || Vibrant Birds of Darjeeling   Entire Pong Dam Lake Wildlife Sanctuary was divided into 26 Sections. About 150 persons participated in this exercise. Each section was thoroughly traversed on land and water by a team of 4-6 members headed by a Coordinator, an expert and assistant coordinator for smooth conduct of entire process.    Related Blogpost - Bird of the Month || Year 2020    After concerted efforts of two days by various experts and forest officials, it has been concluded that 115701  birds of 114 different specieshave been recorded at Pong Dam Lake this year, that include 104032 migratory water fowls of 60 Species,10377 resident water birds of 30 species and 1292 birds of 24 other local Species.    Related Blogpost - Yellow Colored Oriental White-eye Birds around my Home in Himachal Pradesh (INDIA)


Entire Pong Dam Lake Wildlife Sanctuary was divided into 26 Sections. About 150 persons participated in this exercise. Each section was thoroughly traversed on land and water by a team of 4-6 members headed by a Coordinator, an expert and assistant coordinator for smooth conduct of entire process.


After concerted efforts of two days by various experts and forest officials, it has been concluded that 115701  birds of 114 different specieshave been recorded at Pong Dam Lake this year, that include 104032 migratory water fowls of 60 Species,10377 resident water birds of 30 species and 1292 birds of 24 other local Species.


Related Blogpost - Winged Visitors around our home in Mandi, Himachal || Birds of the Himalayas  Dominant species are Bar Headed Geese (49496), Northern Pintails (12881), Eurasian Coots(10860), Common Teals(7334),  Common Pochards (3988), Northern Shoveler (2818), Great Cormorants(2121),Eurasian Wigeons(1350), Eurasian Wigeon(1350), and Ruddy Shelducks(1028)  have been noticed this year.    Related Blogpost - Two Ruddy Shelducks Flying around a Water-boat parked on shoreline of Pong Dam Lake at Nagrota Suriyan, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India    Other uncommon bird species recorded in the lake are Common Shelducks (75),Northern Lapwings(32), Common Ringed Plover(20) , Pied Avocets(09), Ospreys(05), Black-bellied Terns(05), Common Mergansers(04), Sarus Cranes (02),Eurasian Curlews(02),White-tailed Lapwings(01), Water Pipits(01),  Lesser White-fronted Goose(01), and Buff-bellied Pipit(01).    Related Blogpost - The Winged Wonders of Pong Wetlands - by Vibha Malhotra, TOI

Related Blogpost - Winged Visitors around our home in Mandi, Himachal || Birds of the Himalayas


Dominant species are Bar Headed Geese (49496), Northern Pintails (12881), Eurasian Coots(10860), Common Teals(7334),  Common Pochards (3988), Northern Shoveler (2818), Great Cormorants(2121),Eurasian Wigeons(1350), Eurasian Wigeon(1350), and Ruddy Shelducks(1028)  have been noticed this year.


Other uncommon bird species recorded in the lake are Common Shelducks (75),Northern Lapwings(32), Common Ringed Plover(20) , Pied Avocets(09), Ospreys(05), Black-bellied Terns(05), Common Mergansers(04), Sarus Cranes (02),Eurasian Curlews(02),White-tailed Lapwings(01), Water Pipits(01),  Lesser White-fronted Goose(01), and Buff-bellied Pipit(01).


Related Blogpost - Winged Wonder of California - Birding tours around San Francisco Bay Area, CA    A few noticeable species are Great Crested Grebes, Red Crested Pochards, Ferruginous Pochards, Mallards, Tufted Ducks, Eurasian Spoonbills, Curlew Sandpipers and many other species of Larks & Pipits.    Related Blogpost - Bar Headed Goose flying near Pong Wetland in Kangra region of Himachal Pradesh, India    Total population of Birds as well as species of birds have shown an increase over last year. Population has shown marginal increase from 115229 to 115701 where as species have increased from 103 to 114. No of migratory water dependent species as well as resident water dependent species have also show an increase over the last year from 58 to 60 species and 29 to 30 species respectively.    Related Blogpost - A visit to Surajpur Birds Sanctuary - A Bird Sanctuary at Risk


A few noticeable species are Great Crested Grebes, Red Crested Pochards, Ferruginous Pochards, Mallards, Tufted Ducks, Eurasian Spoonbills, Curlew Sandpipers and many other species of Larks & Pipits.


Total population of Birds as well as species of birds have shown an increase over last year. Population has shown marginal increase from 115229 to 115701 where as species have increased from 103 to 114. No of migratory water dependent species as well as resident water dependent species have also show an increase over the last year from 58 to 60 species and 29 to 30 species respectively.


 Related Blogpost - Elusive Songmakers of Dalhousie, Himachal || Birds of the Himalayas    The population of Flagship Species of Pong Lake ,Bar-headed Geese have shown 68% increase from last year (2018-19) as the total count was  29443 as compared 49496 Bar-headed Geese this year.    Related Blogpost - The Winged Models || Birds of Badahin, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh    Population of birds and number of species is expected to increase in coming days during return journey to their breeding grounds as birds from North-West, Central and South India will start arriving at Pong Lake.    Related Blogpost - Incredible Birds of Costa Rica - part 4 || Flycatchers, Warblers, Solitaires, Jays, Egrets


The population of Flagship Species of Pong Lake ,Bar-headed Geese have shown 68% increase from last year (2018-19) as the total count was  29443 as compared 49496 Bar-headed Geese this year.


Population of birds and number of species is expected to increase in coming days during return journey to their breeding grounds as birds from North-West, Central and South India will start arriving at Pong Lake.


Most of these birds migrate from their breeding places in Trans-Himalayan region in Tibet, Central Asia, Russia and Siberia. Over the last few years , Pong Dam Lake also a Ramsar site, has become an ideal destination for winter sojourn for many species of Migratory birds.    Related Blogpost - Birds of Ayuthhaya || 10-Day Vacation in Thailand

Most of these birds migrate from their breeding places in Trans-Himalayan region in Tibet, Central Asia, Russia and Siberia. Over the last few years , Pong Dam Lake also a Ramsar site, has become an ideal destination for winter sojourn for many species of Migratory birds.


Related Blogpost - Our trip to the Keoladeo National Park || An Overview    In general, 425 Species of Birds have been known to occur in Pong Dam Lake Wildlife Sanctuary that includes terrestrial as well as summer migrant birds which could be primarily attributed to the varied habitats, food availability, intervention done and protection extended by the staff of wildlife wing and active involvement of local communities.    Related Blogpost - Okhla Bird Sanctuary - Top place to visit & explore in Noida    Source : Himachal Pradesh Forest & Conservation Department


In general, 425 Species of Birds have been known to occur in Pong Dam Lake Wildlife Sanctuary that includes terrestrial as well as summer migrant birds which could be primarily attributed to the varied habitats, food availability, intervention done and protection extended by the staff of wildlife wing and active involvement of local communities.


Source : Himachal Pradesh Forest & Conservation Department

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