Siberian common crane arrives in Majuli wetlands

JORHAT, Nov 14: The rare Siberian common crane has arrived in the wetlands of Majuli this week ending its long distance migratory route from Siberia, a group of naturalist of the State informed. According to their report, as many as seven Siberian common crane species have been appearing in Kumalia Sapori and Dorbar Sapori yesterday for the first time of the year. Naturalist Tilok Chandra Sarma informed that, though the rare species of birds use to come to the Assam’s wetlands in December and January but from the last couple of years its appearance happened earlier. Last year it came on October 14, he added. Another group of environment activists said, this rare species of migratory birds have come to these wetlands for food. Due to the land being covered in ice and food scarcity during the cold winter months in Siberia, located in the pole of the Earth, these rare birds migrate to the Asian countries during winter. The solitary isles of Brahmaputra between Nemati Ghat to Bhakat Sapori is the main sheltering place of Siberian common crane. Onlookers revealed that, here they get enough food to eat as they have been foraging in the sapories along with the cattle in search of their main food– the underground larva. In the night time, they assemble together in sandy islands of the river Brahmaputra with their metallic sounds.

However, naturalists claimed that, although these migratory birds have been coming to the Assam soil but the people and the concerned departments still lacks awareness on it. Pointing out the illuminating tourist boats settled in the said areas of Majuli, they said that it makes a great disturbance to these migratory birds. All the migratory birds are ready to take shelter in the lonely sandy islands from the beginning of sun setting to twilight time. Consequently, disturbances may provoke an opposite picture causing force to leave the birds from their sheltering. Therefore, they said that, the tourist and other boats only should be allowed for staying near the commercial sites, they added. THE SENTINEL