Water vanishes, so do the birds

A DRY lake in the city zoo has eliminated all possibilities of migratory birds visiting here during the winter this year. The lake, spread over an acre, could not get enough water due to scanty rainfall and has gone dry.

A DRY lake in the city zoo has eliminated all possibilities of migratory birds visiting here during the winter this year.

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The lake, spread over an acre, could not get enough water due to scanty rainfall and has gone dry.

Couple of years ago, with water and greenery all around, the lake attracted large number of migratory birds.

But since there is no other way to fill it, the possibility of seeing any migratory birds this year too has vanished.

On an earlier occasion, when the migratory birds stayed away from the lake due to the pollution caused by sewerage water coming into the lake, commissioner Anita Bhatnagar Jain had taken personal interest to get the sewer drain diverted to keep the lake clean and provide congenial environment to the visiting birds.

According to zoo authorities, about three hundred painted storks were spotted hovering over the lake area on Thursday. However, after staying there for about one hour, the migratory birds flew away in search of a better place.

Talking to Hindustan Times, zoo director, Hemant Kumar said that since the water level in the lake reduced considerably due to percolation and for want of rainfall, the migratory birds flew away to other places. “The birds , which arrive here every year by the end of November and leave for their home lands in March, have not come so far this year,” he said.

Kumar added that the birds, which were seen on Thursday, might have moved to the banks of the Ganga near the barrage. However, it was very likely that they would come to the zoo for nesting, as there was no other safe place nearby, he said.

According to zoo records, the lake had seen about eight species of birds including painted storks, carmorant, snake birds, Indian moorhen, egrets, grey heron and night herons coming here from far off areas.

“We have made all necessary arrangements for their nesting. Now, it depends on the birds to oblige us,” Kumar said.