As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Friday 6 May 2016

Over 350 species of birds migrate to India: Govt


April 25, 2016 | UPDATED 17:05 IST

New Delhi, Apr 25 (PTI) More than 350 species of bird migrate to India even as there has been a decline in the number of some of these migratory avians due to various reasons, including pollution of wetland by domestic sewage, Rajya Sabha was told today.

"Although no specific assessment is conducted by the Ministry (Environment) with respect to species of migratory birds visiting India, literatures published by experts, including scientific institutions, suggest that about 370 species of birds migrate to India out of which 175 species undertake long-distance migration using Central Asian flyway area which also include amur falcons, Egyptian vultures, plovers, ducks, storks, ibises, flamingoes, jacanas, pochards and others," Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said.

In a written reply, he said as per the Asian Water Bird Census coordinated by Wetlands International, some migratory birds in the region showed a decreasing trend during the last decade while some species indicated a stable population.

"The decline in the number of migratory birds is attributed to various factors including wetland reclamation, pollution of wetland through domestic sewage, hunting, trapping of migratory routes, indiscriminate use of pesticides and fertilizers, reduction of habitat, climate change," he said.

On the steps taken by the government for protection of migratory birds, Javadekar said rarer and endangered species are included in the Schedule 1 of Wildlife Protection Act 1972 thereby according the highest degree of protection.

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