One Million Migratory Birds Flying From Europe Expected This Season At Andhra's Kolleru lake

Kolleru Lake is one of the largest freshwater lakes in India, located in Andhra Pradesh, and forms the largest shallow freshwater lake in Asia. It is located between the Krishna and Godavari deltas.

Pelicans in Kolleru lake (Image Used For Representational Purpose/File Photo)

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It's that time of year when the majority of Andhra Pradesh's Kolleru lake is teeming with migrating birds, and based on current numbers, it's only projected to reach a million, according to a PTI report. More winged visitors are expected to arrive at the Ramsar site in the following days.

Glossy ibis, Open-billed stork, Purple moorhen, and Painted stork, according to forest department authorities, are flocking here for the nesting season, with many flying from as far away as Russia and Siberia, known for their severe winters. Many more winged guests are likely to arrive in Kolleru in the coming weeks, fleeing the cold and blizzards in their home countries.

Migration during the winter months is a natural phenomenon, with people flying in from as far away as Russia, Siberia, and other chilly European countries. After a long journey, the birds return to these areas to nest and reproduce. And Kolleru, the country's largest freshwater lake nestled between the deltas of the Krishna and Godavari rivers, is an ideal home for winged visitors. The lake is a source of sufficient food in the form of fish, and favourable weather conditions for nesting are some of the factors attributed to avian members preferring this lake as their winter home, according to the PTI report.

"We have already received almost six lakh birds. This figure could rise to 10 lakh in the following days. "The government's constant efforts to sensitise local people on the importance of migratory birds for ecological balance and to keep a rigorous monitor on poachers are finally yielding dividends," SVK Kumar, Forest Range Officer (wildlife), Eluru was quoted as saying by PTI.

Stringent punishment, according to Kumar, has drastically reduced poaching. The birds make use of state forest department amenities such as habitat centres, trees planted on artificial mud mounds, and iron supports.

Tourism follows the birds. Tourism has developed in the area as more people visit the lake to observe the fowls, and the lake has been designated as a wildlife sanctuary. Kolleru is considered more essential in terms of ecological balance since it is one of the key hotspots for a migratory route known as the Central Asian Flyway, as well as because of its strategic location, which has made it a bio-central hotspot for migratory birds.

Kolleru Lake is also mentioned in Ramsar sites. The Ramsar Convention is a global convention that promotes the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. It was signed in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971.

(With Inputs From PTI)