By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 14 Oct: The arrival of Siberian migratory birds has begun at Asan Conservation Park, Uttarakhand’s first Ramsar site (Wetland of international importance) marking the onset of the much-awaited birding season. It may be reminded here that Asan Lake will be reopened for boating on 16 October. Flocks of Ruddy Shelducks (Surkhab) can now be seen playfully gliding in the shimmering waters and basking on the small islands amid the gentle autumn sunshine.
From 16 October onwards, Asan Lake will be reopened for boating, allowing tourists and birdwatching enthusiasts to enjoy a closer view of these winged visitors.
Renowned as a paradise for Siberian migratory birds, Asan Conservation Park attracts thousands of avian species each year due to its rich biodiversity, tranquil environment, and favourable habitat. The birds undertake a remarkable journey of nearly 4,500 kilometres to reach the lake from their native Siberian breeding grounds. The migratory influx typically begins in October and continues till early March, after which the birds start their return migration. Each season, over 5,000 birds representing nearly 141 species arrive at the site, transforming the wetland into a vibrant spectacle of colour and sound.
Preparations are in full swing to welcome visitors, with the boats undergoing maintenance and repainting ahead of the reopening on 16 October. Forest officials and the birdwatching experts have also confirmed that the arrival of Siberian birds at Asan Lake has begun, with several species already spotted across the lake.
Among the notable avian species sighted at Asan are the Ruddy Shelduck, Black Stork, Goosander, Snowy-browed Flycatcher, Chestnut-headed Tesia, Pallas’s Fish Eagle, Wallcreeper, Chinese Rubythroat, Silver-eared Mesia, River Tern, Common Greenshank, Rufous-bellied Niltava, Steppe Eagle, Slaty-blue Flycatcher, Grey-bellied Tesia, Brown Dipper, Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher, Spotted Forktail, Northern Shoveller, Gadwall, Eurasian Wigeon, Indian Spot-billed Duck, Red-crested Pochard, Tufted Duck, and Little Grebe, among others.
The return of these migratory guests has once again brought life and colour to the serene waters of Asan, reaffirming its reputation as one of North India’s premier wintering grounds for migratory birds and a key attraction for nature lovers and ornithologists alike.
