Pic by Bibhash Lodh/BS News Agency.
Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency: As is the practice every year, the bird census is underway across various forest divisions of India, and similarly, this census has begun in different districts of West Bengal under the West Bengal Forest Department. The presence of migratory birds in rivers, dams, and reservoirs is being counted, and the environment is being monitored. This year, the census will continue from January 11, 2026, to February 1, 2026.
Forest officers, forest workers, and bird experts from the Asansol Range under the Durgapur Forest Division have visited the reservoirs in Chittaranjan to count migratory birds and monitor the environment. This work is being carried out under the responsibility of the West Bengal Forest Department, with the joint efforts of forest officers, forest workers, bird experts, and experts from the NGO 'WINGS'. At the end of the census, it was observed that the number of migratory birds in the Chittaranjan reservoirs is significantly lower compared to other wetlands in the district.
The Chittaranjan reservoirs were once a very well-known and famous sanctuary for migratory birds. Every winter, various species of birds from home and abroad would flock here. But gradually, that scene has changed. Although the presence of a few species like Lesser Whistling Duck, Eurasian Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Tufted Duck, Red-crested Pochard, Common Pochard, and Ruddy Shelduck was observed in this year's census, their numbers were limited. In many reservoirs, the presence of birds is less than in previous years.
According to experts, several human-induced factors are playing a significant role in the decline of bird numbers in the Chittaranjan reservoirs. For example, fishing from boats and scaring the birds away, increased human movement and disturbance—all these factors mean that the birds cannot live safely as before. In some places, the effects of fish farming and chemicals used in the water are also impacting the environmental balance.
At the end of the census, forest officers, forest workers, and bird experts expressed deep sorrow and concern over the decline in the number of migratory birds in the Chittaranjan reservoirs. According to them, if this trend continues, the Chittaranjan reservoirs may gradually disappear from the map of migratory bird habitats. According to environmentalists, this is not merely a matter of declining bird populations, but a clear warning sign of the destruction of the area's ecological balance and natural beauty.
The reservoir in Chittaranjan, once known for its natural beauty and biodiversity, is now gradually losing these qualities. Experts believe that to overcome this situation, public awareness and a sense of responsibility towards nature conservation are paramount.