Arunachal: Mandarin ducks found nestling in Lower Subansiri district

duck

A flock of magnificent mandarin ducks were again sighted at the famed Siikhey Lake in Ziro, the headquarters town of Lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh.

The information was shared during the monthly Ziro Bird Walk, organised by Arunachal Pradesh Birding Club Ziro on Saturday, a district official said.

The meeting was attended by Lower Subansiri Deputy Commissioner Bamin Nime along with other avid bird watchers from Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) led by professor Daniel Mize, members from Wild Life Conservation Society Bangalore, Ziro Birding Club and Ngunu Ziro.

The avian species were sighted in the lake on January 25, District Information and Public Relations Officer (DIPRO) Gyati Kacho informed. Mandarin Ducks were first recorded during Ziro Bird Walk in February 2021 while the second was recorded in March last year.

Unlike the previous single visitor, this year three mandarin ducks comprising two females and one male visited Ziro valley.

According to avid bird watcher and renowned tour operator Koj Mama, the factor could be because of the Air Gun Surrender Abhiyan launched by the state government a few years back.

Mama further informed that with the launching of Ziro Bird Walk in 2019 by involving community participation to protect birds and restrict hunting activities, the number of migratory birds visiting the valley has increased many folds.

The Ziro Bird Walk is organised every month at Ziro Valley. The mandarin ducks were first reported from Maguri beel in Assam and Dirang in West Kameng district of the state. 

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