Until a decade and a half ago only about fifty thousand waterfowl were counted in the wetlands of Koshitappu Wildlife Reserve, now hardly fifty thousand waterfowl are found in the wetlands of the country. This decline indicates deteriorating environmental balance and depletion of natural resources.
Bird species that depend on wetlands where both water and land exist are called waterfowl or waterfowl. These birds require an aquatic environment for breeding, grazing and migration. Out of the 892 species of birds recorded in Nepal so far, there are about 200 species of waterfowl.
Among them, about 100 species of birds are winter visitors. With the onset of winter, those birds migrate to Nepal to escape the growing winter from the northern regions.
Waterfowl from the northern countries of Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Turkestan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, China, Mongolia as well as Europe, Korea and Tibetan region come to our wetlands in search of favorable weather, safe habitat and pasture. Now these birds are arriving in Nepal, they spend here till March and then return to their permanent residence for breeding.
Therefore, flocks of resident and visiting waterfowl can be seen in the wetlands. Waterfowl that live in specific habitats and also migrate are considered indicators of wetland health and changing climate.
Wetlands are also known as the 'kidneys of nature' as they are the most productive and biologically important areas compared to other ecosystems. The quality of a wetland is also determined by the number of waterfowl found there. For example, one of the criteria for a wetland to be listed on the 'Ramsar List' is the species diversity and number of waterfowl found there.
Ironically, wetlands have been declining at the fastest rate in recent years. Encroachment of wetlands, leakage of chemical fertilizers/pesticides used in the surrounding fields, dumping of sewage and waste, uncontrolled mining of riverine materials, construction of unnecessary physical structures in Taltalaiya in the name of tourism promotion are harming the environment.
Weather and climate change are having the biggest impact on our wetlands. It has a direct impact on waterfowl. Since 1987, every year during winter, waterfowl are counted for two weeks in coordination with National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Department, Himalayan Nature, Nepal Ornithologists Association, Nepal Bird Conservation Association etc. Calculations in recent years have shown the situation to be increasingly alarming.
In the book "The Birds of Bagmati and Toudah Area, 2003-2016" by ornithologist Arend van Rijn, it is mentioned that the number of 52 species of waterfowl that come to the Bagmati and Toudah wetlands of Kathmandu valley during winter migration has decreased rapidly in 14 years. About 50,000 waterfowl were counted only in the wetlands of the Koshitappu Wildlife Sanctuary, known as a bird's paradise until about a decade and a half ago. But now hardly fifty thousand waterfowl are found in wetlands across the country.
Last year, 62,912 waterfowl were counted in 79 wetlands across the country. But five years ago in 2019, only 69 thousand 563 waterfowl were counted in 66 wetlands. This shows that the number of waterfowl in Nepal is decreasing every year.
Among the 41 species of rare birds recorded in Nepal so far, 12 species are waterfowl. Out of the 168 endangered species of birds in Nepal, waterfowl occupy a quarter. The significant decline in the number of these waterfowl, which are seen as indicators of various wetlands and environment, indicates the deterioration of Nepal's environmental balance and depletion of natural resources.
Along with the destruction of key habitat wetlands, illegal bird hunting and trade, obstruction of flight paths, increasing water pollution and climate change are also affecting waterfowl. Beautification of wetlands not only reduces the quality and lifespan of wetlands, but also affects waterfowl. For example, one can look at Toudah in Kathmandu Valley.
Toudah today is decorated with cement floors, twinkling lights and cottages around. The pink-headed duck, which is now thought to be extinct in the world, is said to have been recorded from Toudah region at one time.
Not only that, the world's rare black-headed duck and other long-tailed ducks, Malak ducks, Khoya ducks, Nadun ducks, etc., have been displaced from this area. Finally Toudah Phagat is being built as an artificial pond.
Kapilvastu's Jagdishpur Reservoir, which is listed in the Ramsar List of international importance, is under the grip of environment-unfriendly development. In the year 2017, about 23 thousand water birds were counted in Jagdishpur lake, last year only 12 thousand water birds were counted. The condition of Sunsari's Barjutal, Rupandehi's Gandatal, Banke's Kantital and Bardia's Badhaiya Lake is also alarming.
Migratory waterfowl are special types. They come to our wetlands after a very difficult and challenging journey of thousands of kilometers. For example, Khoyahans come to Nepal by flying up to 9,000 meters above the Himalayas. They spend winter in Koshi, Narayani, Karnali and their tributaries.
Even helicopters cannot fly over mountains where oxygen is very low and the wind speed is more than 322 kilometers per hour. Khoyahans fly long distances before crossing the mountains where the temperature is low. Due to this, heat is generated in his body and the down feathers inside the large feathers maintain the heat and do not allow snow to freeze.
Scientists say that the hemoglobin in the blood of chickens is able to easily and quickly absorb even the low amount of available oxygen. This bird, which can fly against the direction of the wind, can cover a distance of more than 1,600 kilometers in a day at a speed of 80 kilometers per hour. Even minor obstructions to shelters, flight paths and resting places along the way can have a major impact on this type of waterfowl.
As the wetland is an umbrella ecosystem, its protection and proper management is necessary for the overall ecological balance and dynamics. Protection of wetlands is the main basis for protecting waterfowl. For that, the cooperation of concerned agencies, researchers and the community is necessary.
It is necessary to make waterfowl census and their habitat monitoring and awareness raising which has been done in the past more comprehensive, expanded and effective. Especially the wetlands located outside the protected area are under the pressure of intensive human exploitation, so their protection should be prioritized.
There is a need for effective cooperation of three levels of government, conservation partner organizations, researchers and communities in the creation and implementation of necessary policies for the protection of waterfowl and their habitats, which are facing an increasing crisis day by day.
Many local and foreign tourists are eager to see and take pictures of waterfowl that live in groups, look attractive and make interesting journeys, so it is important to emphasize tourism promotion. Since the migration of waterfowl and the relationship with wetlands have been happening for hundreds of years before the development, settlement expansion and material progress of people, we should be responsible for preserving their eternal journey and biological relationship.
