UPPER LAKE OF BHOPAL : The favourite destination of migratory birds.
Dr. ASMA ALI ( Ecologist)
As the sun was setting over the shore line of Upper Lake Bhopal, dozen of migratory birds were shuffling about lazily on the edge of the lake, the wind was fluffing their feathers. A breeze picked up at the Shore line wrinkling the water as the Waves slowly rolled towards them.
These birds had made an epic journey to get here flying all the way from their native place. Astonishingly, they didn't stop along the way. For 6 or 7 days straight they flew, beating their wings the entire way , about 5000-7000 miles. birds highly mobile creatures subject to their movements influenced daily, seasonally and annually, by weather, food and other factors which resulted in more or fewer species as well as individuals at any time in somewhat unpredictable ways.
The first naturalist to write about migration was Aristotle, who observed that all migratory birds fatten themselves up before migration. Birds often double their weight in a day at a site, gaining up to 50% body fat to prepare them for the long leg of their journey. It is interesting to know that most birds migrate at an altitude of 3,000 feet or less but cranes and geese migrate at altitude of 15,000-21,000 feet.
Bhopal with beautiful lakes have unique guest in peak of winter season. Many species of migratory birds such as Siberian crane, Greater Flamingo and Demoiselle crane arrive here from Europe, Central Asia and Himalayas, especially in winter season. Bhopal also known as the city of lakes have many natural and man made Lake offer a perfect habitat for these visitors.
Between 1500 and 4000 species of birds are known to migrate in India and South Asia. In India subcontinent the majority of migratory birds are winter migraine Birds plays important role in ecosystem which are good pollinator and Predator of insects and small mammals, birds also helps dispersing of seed. But immigration of birds on Upper lake has drastically reduce.
The timing of migration seems to be controlled primarily by changes in day length. Migrating birds navigate using celestial clues from the Sun and stars, the Earth's magnetic field and mental map. Approximately 1800 of the world 10000 Bird species are long-distance migrants.
Birds are among the few groups of organism in which both community reassembly and adaptation of species to climate change have been documented. Climate changes has resulted in birds shifting their ranges and colonizing new localities consequently, climate change has altered the species richness and composition of avian communities.
We are learning more about the Migration of birds as they fly thousands of miles and how humans and climate change are making it tougher for them.
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