Forest Dept monitoring migratory birds in Gujarat

AHMEDABAD: The forest department is keeping a close watch on the migratory birds in the wetlands of Gujarat in view of reports of bird flu surfacing in Maharashtra, said a senior forest official here on Saturday.

"The forest staff in the wetlands of Gujarat have been instructed to closely monitor the behaviour of the migratory birds in the wetlands," Chief Conservator of Forest M L Sharma said.

"Proper training has been given to the officials to observe the behaviour of birds and report any deviation  in their movement to the concerned authorities," he said.

Gujarat has a total of 831 wetlands of which 438 are coastal and 393 are inland. The coastal and inland wetlands cover 92.3 per cent and 7.7 per cent of the total wetland areas respectively.

The wetlands are the most crucial components of the international flyway of migratory birds. The state has 490 species of migratory and resident birds which include Flamingoes, Great Indian Bustard, Houbara Bustards, Eurasion cranes, Lesser Floricans, Pelicans etc.