Birds fly as Sukhna fills to the brim

CHANDIGARH: Too much water has turned Sukhna Lake into a desert for wetland birds. Lacking in shallow waters for feeding and silted islands for perching and resting, 95% of bird species have fled from the lake even as the fish rejoice and sambar and neelgai drink to their hearts' delight.

As the monsoon waters boost the lake's pond area depths to the danger mark, the hordes of openbill storks and a handful of painted storks are nowhere to be seen. Grey and purple herons have joined the exodus. These birds revelled in the lake's mosaic of shallow ponds and silted stretches till just a few weeks back. Even quintessential red-wattled lapwings and black-winged stilts that were to be seen trotting along the lake walkway, have all but disappeared. Every evening, flights of lesser whistling ducks rose from the lake and flew across the Chandigarh Golf Club to nightly feeding grounds. But these ducks, which love lots of dry spots, seem to have vanished into thin air.

Continued:  http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-21/flora-fauna/34001267_1_wetland-birds-species-of-migratory-birds-waterfowl