Aligarh: Siberian birds have started arriving at the city’s famous Shekha Lake. The beauty of Shekha Lake has increased manifold thanks to the tweets of winged foreign guests. However, the city residents and the tourists are not being allowed to enjoy the rare moment due to the coronavirus pandemic. The District Administration has not yet received the permission to open the Shekha Lake for bird lovers and tourists. The birds in flocks from Siberian countries start thronging the lake with the advent of winters. The tweeting winged guests can be heard from the far-flung areas, which add a new flavour to the entire atmosphere. The Shekha Lake becomes a home away from home for the Siberian birds with the advent of winters. Nearly 186 types of birds come to Shekha Lake every year.
THE SHORTAGE OF WATER IN BIRD SANCTUARY
The Shekha Lake is an important bird sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh. The scarcity of water continues to be a major concern with respect to Shekha Lake. The upper Gang canal is flowing quite short of its capacity. Most of the water the lake gets from this Gang canal. Lack of water and hyacinth causes a lot of hardships to birds in resting and spreading their spreading wings. This bird sanctuary is closed for tourists in view of the coronavirus induced lockdown. The best time to visit the lake is between the months of November and February. At this time, the lake is full of Siberian birds. Fees have also been increased to visit the bird sanctuary. Earlier, there was an entry fee of Rs 10 per individual, which has now been increased to Rs 30 for Indian citizens and Rs 350 for foreign nationals. There is also a fee for making movies and documentaries near this bird century.
BIRD SANCTUARY IS SPREAD IN OVER 40 HECTARES
The Shekha bird sanctuary is spread in an area of about 40 hectares in Bhawangarhi locality. It is a lush green forest area, which is inhabited by birds and wildlife animals. There are proper arrangements for bird viewing for tourists. There is also a provision for nature walks around the lake. There are swings for children. High-rise scaffolds have also been built here to view foreign birds.
BIRD SCIENTIST SALIM HAS ALSO VISITED THE LAKE
It is said that Shekha Lake had taken the shape during the time of the Mughal. In 1852, the upper Gang canal was carved out of the lake. At that time, the farmers had built this canal. The Shekha bird sanctuary gets water from this canal. Not only this, but the students of Aligarh Muslim University have also done PhDs on the birds coming from abroad. Ornithologist Dr Salim Ali has also visited this lake. This bird sanctuary falls under the silence zone. As a result, the Siberian birds do not feel any kind of disturbance. However, things are changing now due to an increase in the flow of traffic on nearby roads, which many times creates a disturbance for the winged guests from abroad.
35 SPECIES OF EXOTIC BIRDS HAVE ARRIVED SO FAR
Many foreign birds have arrived here in the month of November itself, while many other migratory birds are slowly reaching the sanctuary. Oriental turtle duck, Ferguson duck, shoveler duck, scape duck and pintail duck can be seen in the lake these days. The famous bird - Eurasian wigeon - has also arrived in the lake. Around 35 species of migratory birds have reached here. The people of the Forest Department are excited to see these birds. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Shekha Lake has not yet been opened for bird lovers and tourists. People are confident that after getting permission when the tourists reach the lake, thousands of birds will welcome them.
SIBERIAN BIRDS WILL ARRIVE BY DECEMBER
The Siberian birds will start coming as soon as the winter starts. Common Teal, Garganey, Cranes, Murai Pankowah, Black Eye Wish, Big Heron, Scott Bill, Water Rooster, Pintail, Darter, Gray Heron, Painted Stroke, Great Quormant, Purple Heron, Comb Duck, Open Bill Stork, Spot Build Duck, Black Naked Stroke, White Breasted Water Hen, Common Moorhen and Little Cormorant are some of the birds, which arrive by the end of December every year. One can hear the tweet and chirping of these birds from morning itself. One can see these birds sitting or swimming in the calm lake or flying in the open sky. Nature guide Ishaq said that many new birds have come to the lake and their number will increase by December end.
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