Jamshedpur, Jan. 17: The joy of avian enthusiasts has quadrupled this winter, with four new wetland guests making a splash in the steel city.

A recent survey by ornithologist K.K. Sharma and Tata Steel Zoological Park director Bipul Chakrabarty has zeroed in on the large cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscicollis), the great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus), the tufted pochard (Aythya fuligula) and the bronze-winged jacana (Metopidius indicus) as new winged entries this year.

“We were monitoring avian species mainly at two locations — Tata Steel Works and Jayanti Sarovar — and spotted large cormorants, the jacana, the great grebe and tufted pochard for the first time,” Chakrabarty told The Telegraph.

The bird-watchers have also discovered that the number of wetland species is more at the lake inside Tata Steel Works than at Jayanti Sarovar. At least 13 species of migratory birds have flocked to the lake compared to nine last year. Five species — all old visitors except tufted pochard — have been spotted at Jayanti Sarovar.

“Tata Steel Works is a more isolated place compared to Jayanti Sarovar. So, the birds have chosen the lake there as their temporary habitat,” Chakrabarty explained.

These migratory birds have come to the city in search of food and warmth since the winter weather is extreme in the lower Himalayas. Their visit will benefit the ecosystem, as they will feed on molluscs and weeds present in water bodies.

Experts are yet to study whether the birds are stragglers. Both Sharma and Chakrabarty said it was possible that the four new guests had deviated from their original route. “We can, however, confirm the same after a couple of more visits.”

A report being compiled on these birds will be sent to the Asian Wildfowl and Wetland Trust, New Delhi, which is a wing of the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust in the UK. The latter is a monitoring body under the United Nations Convention for Migratory Birds.