Novel: AN UNWANTED FLIGHT
CH#12
WETLANDS AND DESERTS OF PAKISTAN HOST THOUSAND OF MIGRATORY BIRD EVERY WINTER
Pakistan has cozy wetlands which are heaven for migratory birds to pass their winter. These wetlands are last destination of many birds that start their long journey from Siberia and cross many countries to reach here. Aside of wetlands, Pakistan has semi-deserted areas to accommodate migratory Houbara Bustards in its land.
- THANEDAR WALA
FRESH WATER RESERVOIR (A Ramsar site),BANNU
In a while those vagabond migratory birds arrived at Thanedar wala
Game reserve and a wetland, a Ramsar site, near Bannu district, KPK, in
Pakistan. The chirping and gulping of different species of Mallards, Egrets, pintails,
Waders, geese, common and Siberian cranes and numerous other waterfowls arouse
their pleasure and thrill after long. The dazzling marshy green water channels
along 4 km wide area at Thanedar wala bring all birds to still stand over here. Many
of these waterfowls have flown long i.e. about 4500km over Himalayas at Indus
flyway or Green route from Siberia in the end of October to breed or to nourish
their young in temperate climate of this wetland every winter.
- CRANE CONSERVATION CENTER AT LUCKY MARWAT, WILDLIFE PARK, KURRAM RIVER
There were a lot
of familiar beaks and buddies for Siberian crane, especially his cousin with
shiny red beak, which ran to him with pleasant surprise, ‘Oh, we thought we’ve
lost you!’ She almost hugged him.
‘How could you all flew without me from Siberia? No one
bothered to wait for me. Don’t act sympathetic now,’ crane responded real
angry.
‘We waited you for long but you know birds have to fly in
flocks to evade the life threats of long way and you left no choice for us…,’ she
tried to explain.
‘Listen, we’re moving ahead to crane reservation center and
Wildlife Park near at Lucky Marwat. You can stay here, if feel so,’ uncle goose
observed this family reunion and flew a little forward. Houbara bustard also
followed him.
‘Wait, I’ll fly with you,’ Siberian crane chased them too.
‘But, listen, wait…I’m…,’ his cousin called him from
back.
- RAMSAR CONVENTION
‘Since the treaty about the conservation of wetlands and
protection of waterfowls has been passed in Ramsar(a city in Iran) in 1971,,
almost every UN country is taking measures to perk up these swamps. Many wetlands
in world are declared as Ramsar sites including 19 sites at Pakistan, where the
concerned bodies are responsible to take care of waterfowls,’ uncle goose told
them while flying high against strong winds.
‘Once in every week,
a veterinary doctor visits crane refuge
or reservation to see all fowls caged or breed over here, so I’ll feel easy to migrate
and stay here every winter. My little geese hatched here when I was…,’
‘Oh, this is in actual fact a maintained refuge centre
along with wildlife park bearing immense type of bird species, many cages and
feeding facilities to take care…,’ Houbara cut uncle goose off. Just then uncle
goose stopped near private muddy reservoir.
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| WETLANDS, RAMSAR SITES OF PAKISTAN|MIGRATORY BIRDS DESTINATION |
- WHAT THE WETLAND IS?
Large marshy ponds, lakes, river deltas, seepage places near oceans and seas or low lying areas which constantly puddle due to flood or rains turns to freshwater wetlands and attractive habitat of waterfowls,' Uncle goose showed them few wetlands around.
- PRIVATE OWNED WETLANDS AT PAKISTAN
‘The owner of this private reservoir is a proudly
hospitable “Khan”. I live over here,’ uncle goose showed them their habitat and
few sticks at side.
‘Yes, I know in Pakistan apart from full-size wetlands,
few small wetlands from upper KPK to Sindh are privately owned and managed by
the owners. They really take good care of migratory guests,’ Siberian crane
held one stick and put it at one corner. At night they stayed at uncle goose
place.
‘Hi, how hardly I found you? Get up, we’ve to attend bird
racing competition at Tanda Dam ’ his cousin was flying above his head at next
morning.
Siberian crane hardly opened his eyes. The January was on
its way with chill and blurred sun at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He scrolled its wings
to clear mud from his white wings and feasted with few seeds and looked around
for Houbara bustard.
- TANDA DAM, KOHAT(a Ramsar site)
‘What are you looking for? Don’t you listen, we’re
leaving for Tanda Lake,’ she yelled from back.
‘You mean Tanda Lake at Kohat River,’ Siberian crane got
excited for while.
Many migratory birds from Siberia stay at beautiful Tanda
Lake among slopes of Hindu Kush mountains a Ramsar site at Kohat. He would
surely to view around 10,000 species of birds which fly over here to spend
their winter among dense green palm trees. 'Tanda was a hushed place for birds
before a lake view park and bird watching facilities for tourists has been
started at Tanda,’ his excitement vanished for a moment and again looked for
Houbara bustard who slept on a tree branch across marshes.
‘Who is he? Is that semi deserted fowl your friend? Isn’t
it strange? A water fowl and a semi deserted fowl flying together. Houbara
bustards breed in east and cranes breed in Siberia…,’ she chased his eyes.
‘We’ve travelled a long together from Siberia till here
meeting many life threats. We’ve heard these stories throughout our journey but
still we’re buddies,’ crane thought for while and flew little low to Houbara
bustard that was appearing little low on that day.
‘Ok, you both
travelled together but don’t you think, Houbara should move forward to deserted
parts of Balochistan with other Houbara bustards,’ she tried to stop him.
‘Hey partner, looking low,’ Siberian crane approached
Houbara ignoring his cousin.
‘I’m ok but…,’ Houbara whooped holding its tiny leg. A
little wound around his bird ring spotted its face.
‘These bird rings are also our partner throughout and it looked now they’re also fed up of us. I’ll be fine. Are you both going somewhere?’ Houbara Bustard tried to smile now.
‘Yes, towards Tanda Lake but will be right back soon. You
take care of your wound,’ crane’s cousin came forward to put in plain words and dragged him at one side.
After flying for 5 minutes, Siberian crane reached at
Tanda Lake with his cousin. Luckily, the Tanda Lake view park was empty due to harsh winter week day. Siberian crane enjoyed a handful of fishy feast with hundreds
of different migratory birds at Tanda Lake. They enjoyed exciting bird racing
games at Tanda. Herons were flying high towards Indus River but failed to
defeat pintails. Geese won the tasty fish medal from judges after winning at
insect eating race. How time passed at pine trees of Tanda Lake, he couldn’t
know.
- CHASMA BARRAGE, MIANWALI, PUNJAB (a Ramsar site)
‘Let’s go, I’ve to explore you my favorite Indus wetland
at Chasma barrage,’ his cousin called him when he was about to turn back.
‘Please, is it fair that you stay at wetlands of Pakistan
and fail to spot Indus delta and other stunning swamps on it,’ she request
him.
‘Ok, but this would be last,'
Next morning they reached heavenly blue Sindh river at
Chasma barrage where many migratory mallards, wader, geese, cranes were enjoying
their stay.
- TAUNSA BARRAGE, PUNJAB (a Ramsar wetland)
Then they fly little forward to another Ramsar site at
Taunsa barrage at river Indus. Water was still at hype in evergreen Indus River
despite of low rainfall in winters but his cousin didn’t stay there. They met
few migratory flora and fauna among muddy swaps along wheat fields of Dera
Ghazi Khan near Taunsa barrage. and flew to town near.
‘Hey, are you gone mad?’ Siberian crane called her from
back.
- A PAIR OF CRANE (SARUS) AT GIRLS COLLEGE
‘Just fly behind trees. We’re heading to Girls College,’
she turned back. Her red beak and white wings were shining in vivid winter sun.
‘Hey…but…,’ he continued to follow him.
After while they landed on a high concrete wall where a
lot of teen girls in white uniform and white duppatas were studying, gossiping
and cackling among corridors and grounds of girls college.
‘Just stay with me, they’re not going to harm us,’ she
landed direct in middle of ground almost pulling him with her.
‘Oh my… viewing a “pair of Sarus(crane)” is an indication of blissful whole day ahead.
I’ll surely get engaged today,’ one girl screamed gazing at them.
‘Oh my god…I’ll better to bless with passing marks in
Physics,’ her friend wished cheerfully.
‘Let me have one picture,’
‘No, I’ll take first,’ a group
of girls circled them.
‘The students with mobiles and those who have bunked the
classes, just tell by themselves otherwise strict action will be taken against
them?’ one of teacher on duty entered the ground and young fresh bunch of teens
disappeared in seconds.
‘Oh, a pair of crane (Sarus),’ the teacher spotted them and
smiled.
‘We’re going back straight to Kurram river,
Lucky Marwat. Its third day we’re wondering here and there. Houbara must be
waiting behind,’ Siberian crane took off high.
‘Don't these college girls look like siberian cranes in white uniform?I wish I could be part of these teens here .I want to come here again and again,’ she fluttered her wings open.
'Beak doesn't make difference. Human or birds, females everywhere are chatterbox,' he looked around where girls were gathering again.
'Its enough, just leave,' he dragged her out of college boundary. She followed him reluctantly.
'Beak doesn't make difference. Human or birds, females everywhere are chatterbox,' he looked around where girls were gathering again.
'Its enough, just leave,' he dragged her out of college boundary. She followed him reluctantly.
- HOUBARA BUSTARDS BREED AT KHARAN DESERT,
‘Houbara Bustard left for semi arid deserts of Balochistan
in morning,’ Siberian crane found uncle goose alone at its marshes.
‘What! Why? He was not feeling well. He shouldn’t go away
without me. I should leave to see him,’ Siberian crane got nervous.
‘Are you mad? How you’re going to find him in widely
scattered lands of Balochistan when you know nothing about its destination.
Houbara Bustards stay at cities of Dalbandin, Noshki, Gawadar, or anywhere in Kharan
desert. They also proceed to Cholistan desert in Punjab to breed
among cactus, berries and thorny bushes. Let him enjoy his life and you better stay
here,’ his cousin stopped his way.
- WETLANDS OF BALOCHISTAN, PAKISTAN
‘I’ll set at any wetland at Baluchistan like ORMARA
TURTLE BEACH,
RUN OF KUCH, MIANI HOR, ASTOLA (TALAR ISLANDS). Theses
all are Ramsar sites then I’ll look for my friend there… yes, this is good
idea…,’ Siberian crane made his way out of trees.
‘I’ll not advise you to leave alone. It’s good for you
both to hang about and have the benefit at your spaces. Very less time is left
in spring. You can both meet again at Siberia. You better leave for Lake Haliji,
Sindh with me by tomorrow,’ uncle goose consoled crane’s stretched nerves.
- LAKE HALIJI, A FRESHWATER LAKE, THATTA, SINDH (a Ramsar site)
Next day, Siberian crane and uncle goose approached Lake
Haliji. It really deserved to call ‘A BIRD’S PARADISE’ as around 100,000
species of birds were hanging about there at marshy soil of Mehran. Covering an area of 7km square, Haliji
Lake with mild sun, breeze from Indus, hand full of fishes and flavorsome
turtles among mysterious dark mangrove trees made this lake the paradise for
migratory birds especially at its brackish seepage lagoons pull migratory birds
here like magnet. Siberia crane felt real relaxed over here and slept calm
under bowed branch of mangrove tree.
- KHEENJAR LAKE, THATTA (a Ramsar site and wildlife sanctuary)
He was feeling restless next morning despite enjoying
good sleep, so he moved to kheenjar Lake, a few miles away from Haliji lake to
sooth his nerves. He instantly got dismayed by observing the large number of
families gathered
there for bird watching and picnic.
- BIRD WATCHING AT PAKISTAN
‘The increasing
trend of bird watching at Kheenjar Lake has troubled the isolation of animals everywhere.’ A
pair of black-crowned heron and a family of Pheasant-tailed Jacana was annoyed
while roaming with its newly hatched brood at shrine of Sindhi legend Noori Jam
Tamachi at middle of Lake Kheenjar.
‘These humans
are strange; some of them polluted our habitat, hunt and massacre us brutally
for meat and pleasure and others come to rescue us. They pretend to rescue us
by signing treaty or by calling conventions to protect us but in fact all humans
are same; malicious and selfish,’ suddenly crane spotted a sewage
- INDUS DELTA, SINDH
Siberian crane moved forward to privately owned wetland along
Indus delta and gulped in the shallow water at cotton field to look for any
insects. Kids of farmers were playing and studying at dera inside fields. Many
other cranes were twittering with farmers there. Siberian crane sat at one
branch of Seesham tree where two kids were revising their school work which was
a famous story of ‘A crane (sarus) and a fox’.
‘Moral should be ‘A smart crane’ …’a revengeful crane…a
silly fox…,’
Crane laughed out at the story. The two boys left the
notebooks and started to play among fields. Just then one of the boy hit by
something hard at his foot and started bleeding. The other friend held him at
once and cured his wound with his shirt. Crane was observing this all from
distance.
‘Houbara Bustard my friend got that wound just because of
me and I left him alone. How mean!’ Siberian crane restlessly flown high looked
around and started to west at Baluchistan to look for his friend….
TO BE CONTINUED
