The early onset of winter has led to a good turnout of migratory birds across the districts of north Bengal, especially waterfowl in various water bodies across the region.

Nature lovers and ornithologists are predicting that the number of migratory avian populations will increase this year.

Animesh Bose, a veteran nature lover and the programme coordinator of the Himalayan Nature and Adventure Foundation (HNAF), said the early presence of migratory birds in different water bodies suggested that the weather was very conducive for them and indicated a good turnout.

"The waterfowl normally arrives in the region in early December every year. But this year, it has already reached most water bodies by November, which suggests that the weather here is suitable. We expect the number of these avian populations to increase,” Bose said.

In January 2025, the HNAF will conduct its month-long annual waterfowl count (AWC) in association with the state biodiversity board and supported by the state forest department.

The representatives of the nature lover group usually carry out the counting of waterfowl at the Fulbari Mahananda Barrage, located near Siliguri; the Murti and the Jaldhaka, adjacent to Gorumara National Park; the Torsha under Jaldapara National Park; the Nararthali waterbody in the Buxa Tiger Reserve; Rasikbil in Cooch Behar; Domohoni, the confluence of the Teesta and the Karala rivers; and Gosainhat, the confluence of the Diana and the Jaldhaka.

A source said the report of the bird census would be sent to the International Wetland Bureau through the state biodiversity board for the preparation of a comprehensive database of the migratory birds and wetlands.

According to Bose, during the AWC in 2023, they recorded the presence of a total of 58 species and a total of 4,869 birds found.

The number of birds increased in 2024 to 6,111 but the presence of species remained unchanged. The Falcated Duck, the Red Breasted Merganser, the Dunlin, the Bar-headed Goose and the Northern Lapwing were some of the species spotted at the sites.

The statistics for the upcoming 2025 AWC will reveal changes, if any, to the trends of migratory bird visits.

Raja Routh, the secretary of Jalpaiguri Science and Nature Club and an ornithologist of the region, sounded hopeful about the coming year.

“The flash flood in the Teesta River in October 2023 badly affected the aquatic life of flora and fauna because it caused massive siltation downstream. But this year, the silt has reduced in many places. The ideal cold conditions have also been noticed much earlier, which has attracted migratory birds that have already thronged the region. It seems a good turnout of birds will reach here in the next couple of months,” ornithologist Routh said.

Additional reporting by our Jalpaiguri correspondent