Chandigarh, November 20;: Today, DK Tiwari,IAS, Secretary, Forests & Wildlife, Chandigarh inaugurated bird watching facility at regulator end of Sukhna Lake in a programme organized by Department of Forests & Wildlife, Chandigarh in collaboration with Education Department & Yuvsatta (an NGO). To spread awareness among the masses, especially students, about the migratory & resident birds of Sukhna Lake in particular and about wetland and its conservation values in general, Department of Forest & Wildlife is providing facility of Spotting Scope, Binoculars, Illustrative boards depicting details of migratory bird and text on migration among birds & field guides for bird identification etc.
In collaboration with an NGO-Yuvsatta, Forest Department is organizing bird watching trips for schools students from 20th November, 2012 to 6th December, 2012. During this programme, students of various Schools will daily go for bird watching at the Sukhna Lake.
Today around 100 students from Eco-clubs of Carmel Convent School and Gurukul Global School participated in the initiative. And they enjoyed bird watching at Sukhna Lake and later gained insight into the lifecycle of butterflies and their immense significance in our eco-system at Butterflies Garden, Sector 26, Chandigarh.
Chief Guest D. K Tiwari, expressed that such visits will sensitize and aware the students about the protection and conservation of the nature and natural recourses and to adopt sustainable way of life style.
Santosh Kumar, IFS,Conservator of Forests, Chandigarh Administration explained on the occasion that migratory birds start arriving in the Sukhna wildlife sanctuary from early November and their stay lasts till March or April, depending on the climatic conditions. And these birds are very sensitive; so we have made arrangements to make the environment conducive for them.
Saurabh Kumar,IFS, DCF (Wildlife) informed that “Nobody is allowed to play loud music or burst firecrackers near the lake and the sanctuary as that might disturb their lifestyle. Prominent migratory and resident birds which can be witnessed at the Sukhna lake are- Brahmy Duck, Bar-headed Goose, Mallard, Common Pochard, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Gargney, Gadwal, Great Egret, Common Coot, Indian Cormorant etc.
In coming days, Department of Forests, Chandigarh Administration & volunteers of Yuvsatta intends to organize many such educational excursions for local School students.