Migratory birds spotted in water body of Ambala

AMBALA: Some International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) vulnerable, imperiled and threatened listed of migratory birds, including common pochard, common coot, common moorhen, and spot-billed duck have been spotted in a water body behind Mahavir Park near Agarsen Chowk in Ambala City on Friday.
According to information, common pochard (aythya ferina) and common coot (fulica) are mentioned as 'vulnerable (VU)' and these are listed under the red list of 'threatened' species 2019 by the IUCN.
Whereas, Hawaiian ganninule is mentioned as 'imperiled' and it is listed under 'at risk' category of conservation status by the Arlington, US-based organisation namely NatureServe.
Dr Tirsem Kaushik, a bird scientist who has worked with the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, said, "The site of common pochard is a sign of health ecology system and it is purely a migratory bird along with Hawaiian ganninule, Hawaiian coot, and spot-billed duck."
Dr Tirsem said, "The common pochard prefers nutrient-rich open water wetlands which are very rich in vegetation and animal food having roots, rhizomes, vegetative part of grasses, sedges and aquatic plants, aquatic insects' larvae, midges, and caddisflies larvae, mollusca, crustaceans, worms, oligochaetes, and even small fishes."
The population of common pochard is decreasing globally.
"Common coot is a winter migratory bird in Haryana and arrives in the month of September each year. Its food largely consists of vegetables and takes small fishes, insects, and mollusca," added Dr Tirsem.
It is notable that the surroundings of this water body which has attracted the migratory birds in Ambala City are being beautified and some concrete corridors on its boundaries, a restaurant, and a walking bridge is also being developed here.
When asked about any kind of disturbance caused to the natural shape and ecology of this water body due to ongoing development works and about the time period of when the works will be completed, Ambala City municipal corporation (MC) commissioner Parth Gupta said, "Some corridors, a restaurant, and a walking bridge are being constructed in Mahavir Park and this water body is behind that park and it will not be touched at all. The shape of this pond will remain as it was earlier, and it is good that migratory birds are coming here. The beautification work on this body is scheduled to be completed by March-end."