The Bird Conservation Society of Gujarat (BCSG) and the Gujarat Forest Department commenced the two-day bird census across the Gosabara-Mokarsagar wetland complex and other vital wetlands of Porbandar.
Porbandar wetlands support one per cent of the global population of 39 species. Fifty-six birdwatchers from across the state are a part of this count. Eminent birders, ornithologists and forest department staff gathered at a hostel in Porbandar city before spreading out to Gosabara-Mokarsagar wetland complex, Kuchadi-Javar wetland, Amipur and Barda Sagar dams and the Medha creek for conducting population estimation of waterbirds Saturday evening.
Dhaval Vargiya, president of Mokarsagar Wetland Conservation Committee (MWCC), said the census would provide empirical evidence of the richness of the wetlands of Porbandar and their importance for local birds and scores of international migratory species that visit Porbandar for wintering.
Saurashtra Chemicals’ plant in the city is located at a distance of less than one kilometre from Porbandar Bird Sanctuary is in the heart of the city. The wetland known as Chhaya nu Rann behind the Saurashtra Chemicals plant is an important wintering habitat of lesser flamingoes.
It will be for the first time since 2014 that such an exercise is being undertaken on such a large scale.
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