Migratory birds in Dibru-Saikhowa. Photo by Eastern Projections

Dibrugarh, Sept. 3: The first batch of migratory birds this year has descended on the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, spanning Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts of Upper Assam, much before the winter, their scheduled time of arrival.

“We have spotted wagtails in pairs in and around the park,” Ranjeet Dutta, range officer of the Guijan range in the park told The Telegraph.

The wagtails generally migrate from the sub-Himalayan area in the South Asian region and reach in large numbers during October.

The park authorities have decided to take up special measures to ensure a comfortable stay for the avian guests during the season. “We will step up round-the-clock vigil and also launch awareness programmes simultaneously,” Dutta said.

The park last year recorded a “good turnout” of migratory birds during the season.

Maguri beel, a huge water body adjacent to the park, is a also major area of attraction for the migratory birds.

Dibru-Saikhowa is a bio-diversity hotspot located on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra, with a total area of 765 square km. It is located at a distance of 10 km from Tinsukia.

Nearly 350 species of birds have been recorded in the park. These include the greater adjutant stork, lesser adjutant stork, great crested grebe, Indian shag, grey heron, purple heron, night heron, yellow bittern, openbill stork, black stork, large whistling teal, greylag goose, common pintail, Pallas’ serpent eagle, spot-billed pelican, white winged duck, bear’s poachard and the greater spotted eagle, among others.

Though the park authorities deny poaching of birds, local people claim poaching has not stopped. “This is only because the guards are hand-in-glove with the poachers,” a source said.

The park authorities, however, refuted such allegations. “Some antisocials may be active. But there is nothing like largescale poaching,” said a park official.