Water shortages brought on by excessive deficit rainfall in recent years are largely to blame for the sharp drop in migratory bird arrivals at the Hokersar wetland in the Kashmir Valley, a Ramsar site that covers almost 13.75 square kilometers (down from 18.13 square kilometers in 1969). The migratory birds’ arrival at Kashmir has been notably delayed, with Hokersar serving as a key stopover for 68 waterfowl species, including the great egret, small cormorant, great crested grebe, and common shelduck. The wetland serves as both a key food supply and a fish breeding and nursery for these migratory species, which come from Europe, China, Siberia, and Central Asia.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Kashmir is experiencing an 81% rainfall shortage. In particular, Hokersar’s district, Srinagar, had a 36 percent rainfall deficit in the initial three weeks of October and a 96 percent deficit later in the month. Although the area received 131 mm of rainfall in 2023, there was a comparable 96 percent and 89 percent shortfall over the same period in 2022. The decrease in migrating bird populations cannot be entirely explained by the lack of rainfall, but it is still a major factor influencing their arrival.

The Decline in Bird Populations Observed

“By far, by this time of year, over a lakh birds arrive and increase as winter progresses,” noted Reyan Sofi, a bird watcher who has been keeping an eye on migratory birds in Hokersar since 2016. When the season ends in March and April, these birds go for their next voyage, bringing their numbers to millions. He told Down To Earth that the marsh has historically registered about 232 species annually. Nearly two million migrating duck species are housed at Hokersar each year, as per 2018 research published in Plant Archives. Sofi, however, reported a sharp drop this season, with just around 500 birds from a few species seen thus far. “The shortage of water usually occurs post-December or January as water recedes. But this year, it has been observed from October itself.” He said.

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Human Impact: Illegal Sand Mining, Encroachment, and Habitat Degradation

Human activities such as habitat destruction, illegal sand mining, and encroachment further exacerbate the delayed arrival of migratory birds in Kashmir. According to Sofi, much less water is now coming from upstream sources like Sukhnag Nallah to the west and Doodhganga to the east. “Mining activity has resulted in opening up a nullah that drains the water from the wetland,” he continued.

The environment of the wetland has been further deteriorated by mining, encroachments, and unlawful sewage disposal, according to Raja Muzaffar Bhat, a Kashmiri Right to Information (RTI) campaigner. Bhat noted that the streams that supply the wetland had broadened due to mining, going from 15 meters to 30 to 50 meters in certain places. Water shortage may worsen as a result of the increased sediment brought into the wetland by the broader flow.

Calls for Conservation and Legal Interventions

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) stepped in and stopped mining activities in the region when Bhat brought up the unlawful mining at Shaliganga Nallah, a different stream that supports Hokersar, in October 2021. “The wetland has been used by locals for livelihood purposes, and its conservation and protection must become a priority,” he said, highlighting the necessity of long-term conservation efforts.

The Hokersar wetland and its function as a migratory bird habitat are in grave danger due to the combined effects of decreased rainfall, unregulated mining, and expansion. To protect this important location for the rare species it supports as well as the region’s natural balance, immediate and consistent action is required. The ongoing delay in migratory birds’ arrival at Kashmir highlights the pressing need for effective interventions to safeguard this natural heritage.

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