Migratory birds fall prey to poaching

HYDERABAD: More than a dozen migratory birds fell prey to poaching at the Patancheru lake located in the city outskirts, last week. Wildlife experts from the area said that the birds were trapped in a thin, vertical net laid at one end of the lake and suspected it to be the handiwork of local dwellers.
According to them the birds belonged to a range of species such as red-wattled lapwings, barn swallows, bronze-winged jacanas and oriental pratincoles, all of which fall in the `waders' (long-legged and primarily water birds) family.
"This is the first time I have seen something like this in Hyderabad," said Tom Hash, a bird watcher and scientist with Icrisat, who first spotted the poacher's net. While he could not recollect the exact number of birds caught, Hash said that the trap was full and had at least a dozen if not more.
The matter was immediately reported to the forest department though no action has still been taken by the concerned authorities to trace the poachers. In fact, when contacted the officials said they were not aware of any such illegal activity.
"It is only quails and patridges that are poached upon, no other birds. If it had been happening the matter would have come to our notice," said M Raja Ramana Reddy, forest range officer and in-charge of the department's anti-poaching squad.
But while authorities claim that the Patancheru incident is only a one-off case of migratory bird poaching in the city, wildlife experts say otherwise. According to them, trapping of water birds (most of them are edible) is a common occurrence in lakes across Hyderabad. "It usually happens during the migration season (September-November). They are caught by locals and either consumed at home or sold to highway dhabas that are known to serve such birds to their customers," said Farida Tampal, state director, World Wildlife Foundation-India.
In fact, experts say that Hyderabad has a thriving market for such birds, especially in Patancheru. "There is a weekly market in the area that sells birds. In the past we have heard about roadside eateries there selling babblers in the name of quails to customers. And apart from using them for commercial purposes the poor households there also consume birds for survival," said members of the Birdwatchers Society of Andhra Pradesh that has also approached the forest department regarding the case.
Demanding immediate intervention of the authorities to check poaching of birds, experts say that they add to the environmental value of the city. Starting year-end these birds come in large numbers and are visible around most water bodies of Hyderabad till March. "This (March) is the return migration season. Poaching cases do shoot during this time too," said wildlife expert Rajeev Mathew.