Almatti backwater levels delay arrival of migratory birds

Vijayapura: The backwater level at Almatti Dam, which used to recede by the end of Dec every year, remained high this year at 87 tmcft due to heavy rainfall during the monsoon. Birdwatchers said migratory birds such as flamingo, bar-headed goose, black-tailed godwit and demoiselle crane did not arrive from Gujarat as usual. Some birds arrived but moved on within 4-5 days as they did not find sufficient food such as algae, crabs and shells, which are typically available when water levels are low and sludge is exposed.Hanamant Doni, range forest officer (RFO), territorial forest, Mudhol, who is a birdwatcher, told TOI that the number of migratory birds was less this year since the availability of their feeding areas was scarce. "When there is scarcity of food, their flock of about 10,000 birds will spread out. They get united by reverse migration later," he added.
He elaborated that the Almatti dam backwaters sheltered birds such as painted stork, brown-headed gull and gull-billed tern, greylag goose, greater flamingo, oriental pratincole, osprey, small pratincole, river terns, little ringed plover, whiskered tern, bar-headed goose, demoiselle crane, Pallas's gull, pintail ducks, etc. "They are seen at Herakal, Beerakabbi, Bennur, Managur, Hale Rolli, Anagawadi, Old Almatti, Chimmalagi, Benal, Kolhar, Chikka Sangam, Yadahalli, Mallapur and other village limits in the backwater region," he explained.Praveen Baddi, RFO, social forest, Mudhol, a birdwatcher, shared that birds were now moving towards the south. "If favourable conditions continue in areas like Kutch, Gujarat, they will stay there. Otherwise, they move towards the south in this season. We observed that the common pochard, which prefers deep waters, stayed here for a week and moved away towards southern areas like TB dam, Ankasamudra, Tamil Nadu. They return in March from the south and move towards Europe," he shared.He regretted that this year, the number of birds did not cross 1,000, whereas it used to be 10,000. "Almatti backwaters area was a feeding spot for most birds that arrive in winter. Only oriental pratincole birds that come from Australia arrive here in summer for reproduction."