ISLAMABAD: Guest birds from Europe, Central Asian states and India has start arriving in Pakistan through Indus Flyway, as 700,000 - 1,200,000 birds come to Pakistan in winter season every year.
The famous route from Siberia to various destinations in Pakistan over Karakorum, Hindu Kush, and Suleiman Ranges along the Indus River down to the delta is known as International Migratory Bird Route Number 4.
It is also called as the Green Route or more commonly Indus Flyway. The birds start on this route in November. February is the peak time and by March they start flying back home.
These periods may vary depending upon weather conditions in Siberia and Pakistan.
Talking to APP, Director Zoological Sciences Division, Pakistan Museum of Natural History (PMNH), Dr Muhammad Rafiq said there are a total of 7 identified flyways in the world: from Northern Europe to Scandinavian countries, Central Europe to Mediterranean Sea, Western Siberia to Red Sea, Green Route from Siberia to Pakistan, Ganga Flyway from Eastern Siberia to India, Manchuria to Korea and Chakotaka to California.
There are also many regional and smaller routes all over the world, he mentioned.
He said the Indus Flyway is important as a large number of birds of diverse species, including water fowls, cranes, teals, pintail, mallard and gadwall, take this itinerary.
Some extinguishing species like white-headed duck, houbara bustard and Siberian crane also travel on this route, he said.
There are 45 sanctuaries and reserves spread over an area of about 900,000 hectares in Sindh alone.
Some of the birds that come to Pakistan from northern latitudes arrive at coastal creeks.
The remaining birds land up in lakes, which are fondly and proudly maintained by landowners.
Dr Rafiq said only a few places in the world have such plentiful variety of winged life as the wetlands of Pakistan.
The experts have already concluded that the migratory birds have ecological benefits as they prey on insects and weeds thus contributing towards the betterment of agriculture.
Similarly, the faecal material of the birds consists of organic matter that contributes towards the soil fertility.
In different Pakistani habitats the guest birds live like "Pairs of Saras", using the metaphor from romantic literature.
Dr Rafiq said "As a host it is our responsibility to provide them a comfortable and peaceful environment, which can be done by efficiently managing the wetlands. All wetlands are active agents for recharging water tables and aquifers besides being home to birds, he stated.
Human activities around the birds' dwellings, wars, deforestation, water pollution, hunting, introduction of exotic fish species and developing the wetlands for fisheries' production on commercial scale are some of the common disturbance that cause irritation to birds anywhere.
Bird migration superbly demonstrates the complexity and the wonder of the web of life.
One such human influence, global warming (caused mainly by the burning of coal and oil since the Industrial Revolution), is poised to cause catastrophic alteration to this delicate balance.
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