As foggy mornings make way for hazy afternoons, the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Morigaon district is agog with the chirping of migratory birds from across continents. Over 15,000 birds are believed to have travelled over 22,000 km from Siberia and North America to reach Assam.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS:

=> A yearly phenomenon during winter, Pobitora has becomes a birdwatcher’s heaven with thousands of waterfowl thronging the wetlands.

=> This year, winter has arrived early in Pobitora and as the temperature decreases, more birds will come

=> The birds that have come in include both migratory and residential ones. Whistling teal was the most widely-visible species, followed by the common teal, white ibis, Baikal teal, grey-legged goose and bar-headed goose. Many rare birds, like the spot-billed pelican white-bellied heron, lesser adjutant, greater adjutant and swamp francolin, were also spotted.

=> The birds are mostly sighted on the sanctuary’s Tamuliduba and Hahsora beels (wetlands). The other beels are Pagladuba, Lambaduba,Naltoli and Jogdol.

PROBLEMS:

Soil erosion, aquatic weeds, like water hyacinth, are the main problems of the wetlands of Pobitora. Desiltation, improvement of the water body by manual removal of weeds are carried out continuously. Birds often get caught in the fishing nets and as such.the wetlands form a substantial part of the sanctuary playing host to large congregations of winged species during winter.