Introduction
Ahiron is a
freshwater lake and is located between 24°31'44.45"N 88° 1'50.89"E and
24°31'17.60"N 88° 2'2.17"E about 260kms north north-west of Kolkata
city and 30kms south south-east of Dhulian town in the Murshidabad
district of West Bengal, India.
It is
a perennial wetland placed at 22 meters over m.s.l. which grows to
cover 68 ha when it is flooded during the monsoons and shrinks to
about 30 ha in the dry season. The recovered land is put to seasonal
agricultural use. Intensive fishing operations continue round the year
though large parts are not disturbed during the peak migratory season.
The lake is
elliptical in shape and placed strategically along the very busy
National Highway 34 connecting Kolkata with North Bengal and
North-east India. It is fed by the floodwaters of the Ganges river and
a tributary of the Ganges. Ahiron is close to Farraka Barrage – an
important wintering ground for waterfowl and a recognized IBA. Many
birds seen at Ahiron appear to also use Farraka Barrage as an
alternate habitat. There is a stretch of low-lying area opposite the
National highway from Ahiron – this area serves as a resting place for
many of Ahiron’s avian residents and should be brought under the same
level of protection as Ahiron.
Habitat
Ferruginous Pochards
Large parts
of Ahiron seem to be shallow with water depth varying from 60 – 100
cms. Its clear waters are filled with submerged vegetation of which
the dominant species appeared to be Ceratophyllum sp. – an
important food plant for a variety of ducks including Red-crested
Pochards and Ferruginous Pochards. Wet paddy is cultivated at the
edges and the area under cultivation progresses as water recedes due
to usage and evaporation.
Survey
A two-day field survey
initiated and sponsored by
Directorate of Forests, Office of
the Divisional forest Officer, Nadia-Murshidabad Division
was carried out at Ahiron Lake by
Birds of India on 23rd and 24th January
2008. The survey attempted to document the status and distribution of
wintering waterfowl in the lake with the aim of laying the foundation
for a more detailed assessment of the importance of the waterbody as a
wintering area for waterfowl.
Birds
Red-crested Pochards
The Red-crested Pochard Rhodonessa rufina
were found to be the dominant ducks on the
waterbody and numbered around 600. This represents 0.6% of the
estimated world population of the species.
The population of the Near–threatened
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca was estimated at 52
individuals – this is a significant number for this species in a
wetland in India. Waders included a large flock of 105
Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa,
a few Grey-headed Lapwings
Vanellus
cinereus
and a lone Greater Spotted Eagle
Aquila clanga
was also of interest. 60 species were
recorded in and around the lake and this included 3 threatened
species.
Locals report
the presence of Pallas’s Fish-Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus
(also reported in 2003 AWA Report), Osprey Pandion haliaetus
and Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus though none were sighted
during our visit.
Greater Spotted Eagle
Survey Results
Ahiron Beel Survey
23rd and 24th
January 2008
Lesser Whistling-duck
Dendrocygna javanica 50
Gadwall Anas strepera 154
Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata 2
Northern Pintail Anas acuta 4
Garganey Anas querquedula 250
Red-crested Pochard Rhodonessa
rufina 580
Ferruginous Pochard Aythya nyroca 52
Common Hoopoe Upupa epops 1
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis 1
Stork-billed Kingfisher Halcyon
capensis 1
White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon
smyrnensis 10
Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis 6
Asian Palm Swift Cypsiurus
balasiensis
Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis
1
Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia
decaocto 2
White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis
phoenicurus 1
Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio
6
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
8
Common Coot Fulicata atra 7
Jack Snipe Gallinago minimus ? 1
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa
105
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola 2
Common Sandpiper
Actitis hypoleucos 2
Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus
chirurgus 35
Bronze-winged Jacana
Metopidius indicus 8
Grey-headed Lapwing Vanellus cinereus
10
River Tern Sterna aurantia 2
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus
3
Black Kite Milvus migrans 2
Black-shouldered Kite Elanus
caeruleus 1
Shikra Accipiter badius 1
Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga 1
Little Grebe
Podiceps ruficollis 70
Darter Anhinga melanogaster 5
Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger 60
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 3
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea 2
Great Egret Casmerodius albus 20
Cattle Egret
Bubulcus ibis
Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii
Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans 25
Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus 1
Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus 2
Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda 1
Large-billed Crow Corvus
macrorhynchos 2
Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus
25
Oriental Magpie Robin Copsychus
saularis 1
Asian Pied Starling Sturnus contra
100+
Common Myna Acridotheres tristis
Bank Myna Acridotheres ginginianus
10
Jungle Myna Acridotheres fuscus 8
Sand Martin Riparia riparia 2
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Many
Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer
2
Jungle Babbler
Turdoides striatus 6
Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus 1
Grey-headed Lapwing
How to reach:
Ahiron lies between Berhampur, West Bengal and
Farraka and is about
260 kms north north-west of Kolkata city and 30 kms south south-east of
Dhulian town in the Murshidabad district. There is
regular train service to both Berhampur and Farraka and both towns can be
used as a base to visit Ahiron (Berhampur - Ahiron 60kms). NH 34 connects
Ahiron with Kolkata and driving time is 7 hours. Various buses on the North
Bengal route also run past Ahrion Beel.
Places of interest:
Farraka Barrage is an important birding area attracting
many winter visitors. The area has restricted access. Boat rides upstream
from Farraka
can be undertaken.
Murshidabad town, to the south-east of Ahron is a place of historical
interest and has many attractions for the visitors. It is a 2 hour drive
from Ahiron given the poor road conditions.
Best time:
November to March
Sumit K
Sen
Kolkata, India
