World Wetlands Day today

The world observes the World Wetlands Day today.

Wetlands play a dominant role in preservation of the ecology besides attributing to the protection of the environment. These wetlands also provide sanctuaries to the migratory birds flying from the cold regions of the world to the warmer regions' wetlands for survival and hatching.

Map Courtesy Pakistan Wetlands Organization

Pakistan is one of the blessed countries that abound in the wetlands all over its length and breadth. The generally warm and humid climate of Pakistan attracts millions of migratory birds from Sibera, Euorpe and the CARs every year through the famous Indus Flyway or the Green Route. 


Technically speaking the International Migratory Bird Route Number 4 that commences from the Karakoram, Hindu Kush and Suleiman mountain ranges inside Pakistan along the Indus River down to its delta near the Arabia Sea, is one of the most popular and populous route for the migratory birds escaping the harsh winters of Siberia.

Birds like Houbara Bustard – a majestic bird on the verge of extinction flies from far away lands, as far as 5000-6000 kilometers from Central Asian Republics and even China, and land in a numerous wetlands stretched from D I Khan in the north, Ucchali in the Salt Range to down south in the Cholistan Desert. These Bustards fly at an amazing speed and make to Pakistan in just about 5-7 days.


Besides Houbara Bustards, Flamingos, Swans and many other species of birds like the Marbled Teal, White-headed Duck, Eurasian Spoonbill, Dalmatian Pelican throng the wetlands in Pakistan.


Thus the wetlands all around the world feed these migratory birds, add beauty to surroundings and improve the over ecological system and freshen up environment. We must all make an endeavour not to pollute these wetlands which are shrinking everyday due to urbanization even in far flung areas.


Related: 
Wetlands of Pakistan (Pakistanpaedia)
Bird Watching in Pakistan (Pakistanpaedia)
Come November - The Guest Season Arrives (Jaho Jalal)

Read More

Come November - The guest’s season starts

I have added another two months to the famous movie Come September’s title and made it Come November – a month that brings us our guests from the frozen and freezing frontiers of Siberia, Central Asian Republics and Mongolia. Yes I am talking of the thousands and thousands of the migratory birds that evade the sever winter conditions of their natural habitat and come to rather lesser cold climate of Pakistan. We will be host to these beautiful birds till March-April, when they again fly back to their homes when it is relatively warm out there.

One of these birds is the Houbara Bustard – a majestic bird on the verge of extinction which along with others flies from faraway lands, as far as 5000-6000 kilometres from Central Asian Republics and even China, and land in a numerous wetlands stretched from D I Khan in the north, Ucchali in the Salt Range to down south in the Cholistan Desert. These Bustards fly at an amazing speed and make to Pakistan in just about 5-7 days.

With the arrival of Houbara Bustard, the rich and famous from the Gulf States also start to arrive into Pakistan with their teams of falcons, specially trained to hunt the bustards while in flight. I was once deputed to accompany a high profile royal dignitary who had come for the Bustard hunting. They had camped in general area Jhampir near Thatha in the Sind province. Each day they would go out with their falcons and come back with a few hunted Houbara Bustards.

Besides Houbara Bustards, Flamingos, Swans and many other species of birds like the Marbled Teal, White-headed Duck, Eurasian Spoonbill, Dalmatian Pelican throng the wetlands in Pakistan. The migratory birds’ arrival in Pakistan provides an opportunity for the bird watchers to flock the wetlands and enjoy their presence amongst themselves. Once on a reconnaissance in the areas south of Rahim Yar Khan, I also got a chance of bird watching of a large flock of migratory birds perched on an artificial lake in Sandh and Gabbar villages inside the desert. Once they took off, it was a breathtaking lifetime scene to watch them flying, rather floating against the blue sky majestically. It was here that I saw black swans flying overhead me with their grace, charm and majesty.

Related Reading: Bird Watching in Pakistan (Pakistanpaedia)

Read More