Telaiya Dam hosts 11K migratory birds this season, rare Falcated Duck sighted

Koderma: The annual bird census conducted this season at the scenic Telaiya Dam has, for the first time, recorded the arrival of the Falcated Duck, a dabbling duck native to eastern Asia.The census was carried out on Jan 30 by a four-member team led by Satya Prakash, state coordinator of the Indian Bird Conservation Network (IBCN). Around 11,000 migratory birds were recorded in and around Koderma’s iconic dam during the exercise, officials said. Other team members included Murari Singh, Amit Jain, Anil Das, and Rahul Kumar from the Koderma forest department.The sighting of the Falcated Duck has enthused birdwatchers, who are now calling for deeper and more comprehensive interventions to conserve the ecology around the water body, parts of which extend into the adjoining Hazaribag district.The Falcated Duck breeds mainly in the southern regions of eastern Siberia, extending west to the Angara Basin, south to northern Mongolia, Heilungkiang in China, and Hokkaido in Japan, and north to southern Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands. Studies indicate that its winter migratory range stretches to northeastern India and further west across India and Nepal. The species is highly valued in aviculture and is considered an important indicator of habitat quality. It is primarily herbivorous.Speaking to TOI, Satya Prakash said, “The Falcated Duck was sighted for the first time during this census and is rarely seen in other water bodies of Jharkhand. We spotted a pair at Telaiya Dam. These birds migrate from East Siberia and Mongolia.”He added that there was also an increase in the diversity of bird species this season. “Around 50 different species were recorded, which is a matter of celebration,” he said. Common coot and red-crested pochard were seen in the highest numbers. Other species sighted in good numbers included common pochard, Eurasian coot, gadwall, common sandpiper, tufted pochard, oriental white ibis, and northern pintail.Located about 18 km from the district headquarters, Telaiya Dam was declared an important bird area in 2017. Every year, migratory birds from Central Asian regions such as Mongolia, China, and Tibet flock to the reservoir in large numbers. Prakash expressed concern that activities such as floating solar projects and cage fish culture have led to a shrinking of bird habitats at the dam. “While floating solar plants may be environmentally friendly, they are not very friendly from a biodiversity point of view,” he said. Koderma divisional forest officer (DFO) Saumitra Shukla acknowledged the importance of migratory birds in maintaining biodiversity. “The department will take all necessary steps to preserve a suitable environment for our winged guests,” he said.