Himachal: Migratory Birds Begin Early Departure from Asan Barrage, Some Species Leave Ahead of Time
Migratory birds, both domestic and foreign, that had arrived at Asan Barrage on the Himachal Pradesh–Uttarakhand border have begun returning to their native habitats. Typically, these birds stay at the barrage from October to March. This year, early warming of the weather has caused them to start leaving by mid-February.
During the Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) on January 18, 2026, a total of 5,806 birds from 126 species were recorded at Asan Barrage. This is approximately 581 more than last year, although the total number of species decreased to 126. The population has now declined to around 4,500. Species like Ruddy Shelduck, Common Coot, and Gadwall have started their early departure. The highest number of Ruddy Shelducks recorded this year was 983. Other notable species include Bar-headed Goose, Greylag Goose, Common Pochard, Ferruginous Duck, Asian Woolly-necked Stork, and Pallas’s Fish Eagle.
Forest officer Pradeep Saxena stated that seven endangered species are also present during the migration, including Steppe Eagle, Common Pochard, Ferruginous Duck, Egyptian Vulture, Pallas’s Fish Eagle, Asian Woolly-necked Stork, and River Lapwing. Under the guidance of local DFO Vaibhav Singh, forest teams are conducting round-the-clock patrols to ensure the safety of these migratory birds.
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