Migratory birds start leaving country

Islamabad: The migratory birds have started leaving scenic natural atmosphere of 300 water bodies and wetlands including Rawal Dam and other streams in the vicinity of Zone IV, a lifeline of the capital city, after spending four months in naturally congenial ecological settings.

According to the birds watchers, flocks of cranes, ducks-mallards, pochards, common teal, northern pintail, northern shoveler, cormorant, snipes, stints, plovers, gulls and score of other birds are now occasionally seen returning back to their destinations somewhere in Siberia and nearby countries.

The migratory birds escape harsh cold in Russia and China and travel more than 4,500 kilometres to enter Pakistan in November from the north and following the mighty Indus River all the way down to the south, stopping at more than 300 water bodies and wetlands.

There are a number of people, including foreigners, who love watching birds at Rawal Lake and most of them underlined the need in the recent years to maintain natural character of this dam and other water streams that serve as attractive destinations for the migratory birds.  

Sajid Hasan, a bird watcher, said the migratory birds usually stay in Pakistan from November to March and now half of them are believed to have left this country as the weather conditions are fast changing in their home countries.

He appreciated the efforts of Wildlife Management Board that took some effective measures to provide full protection to migratory birds visiting Rawal Lake every winter against illegal hunting.