Water bird census along the Punatsangchhu river basin

Photo by; Pema Thinley, FR II

On Jan 23, 2015, the annual Asian water bird census was carried out right along the Punatsanchhu river basin under the technical guidance of Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation of Environment, Bumthang. This annual survey will help in formulating the conservation strategies of the water birds in the country as conveyed by UWICE. The main objective behind was to reckon the important of migratory water birds along the river corridors to monitor the habitat change and species response to the climate change and understand the migration pattern as well. Hereafter, the survey shall be the annual event before the birds migrate back to their summer habitats.

As such, a daylong survey sighted the remarkable movements of migratory birds along the Punatsangchhu river basin. The team sighted Bar-headed goose, Little ringed plover, Common sand piper, Common merganser, Ibis-bill, Red-wattled lapwing, River lapwing, Common kingfisher, Crested kingfisher, White wagtail, White-capped water redstart, Plumbous water redstart, Hodgson water red start and Brown dipper, Ruddy shelduck and Great cormorants hovering along the river basin. Above all, the team also sighted White bellied heron at Samdingkha under Punakha which is globally significant bird.

Reported by; Mr. Pema Thinley, Forest Ranger II