Sultanpur National Park Records Robust Waterbird Numbers in Annual Census
The Asian Waterbird Census conducted at Sultanpur National Park in Gurgaon on Sunday revealed encouraging numbers of wintering waterbirds this season. However, the survey also raised serious concerns about increasing disturbances inside and around the wetland area that could negatively impact bird behavior over time.
Survey Documents Over 6,000 Birds Across 94 Species
As part of Wetlands International's annual waterbird monitoring program, the census documented more than 6,000 birds belonging to 94 different species. Wintering ducks dominated the count, with Northern Shoveler leading at 856 individuals, followed by Northern Pintail with 770 birds and Green-winged Teal with 560 birds. The wetland also recorded 130 Eurasian Wigeons among the wintering duck population.
Among larger waterbirds, Painted Stork emerged as the most abundant species with 982 individuals counted during the survey. These numbers indicate a healthy wintering population at the protected wetland site.
Multiple Disturbance Sources Threaten Bird Habitat
The census summary highlighted several significant disturbance sources during the peak wintering season. Cattle and free-ranging dogs inside the habitat, uncontrolled visitor numbers, and illegal construction activity within a one-kilometre radius of the park were identified as major concerns.
Birder Pankaj Gupta of the Delhi Bird Society, who participated in the census, explained the ecological consequences of these disturbances. "Ducks and other wetland birds show extreme sensitivity to repeated movement and noise," Gupta said. "Frequent disturbance reduces their feeding time, forces them to shift roosting sites, and can eventually make them abandon certain patches of habitat altogether."
Bird Count Fluctuations Reflect Environmental Changes
The 2025 census recorded 2,593 migratory birds from 48 species, which represents a slight decrease from 2024's count of 2,686 birds from 43 species. Both years showed significantly lower numbers compared to 2023's count of 9,026 birds from 51 species.
Experts attribute these fluctuations to several environmental factors including delayed monsoons, late winter arrivals, shrinking wetlands across the region, and increasing human pressure on natural habitats. While another bird count occurred in the area on January 6, birders emphasized that the Asian Waterbird Census carries particular international significance for conservation efforts.
Conservation Significance and Monitoring Improvements
Gupta noted that survey findings contribute to studying migratory patterns of Asian waterbirds and assessing long-term avian conservation initiatives. The census helps identify rare or threatened species such as pintails, bar-headed geese, spoonbills, storks, and eagles while guiding habitat management decisions regarding water levels, vegetation, and visitor zoning.
Wildlife officials confirmed they are taking steps to improve monitoring capabilities at the park. "We plan to install cameras on all watch towers to cover both land and water zones," said divisional forest officer (wildlife) R K Jangra. "Drone surveillance will also be deployed to enable more accurate census data collection in future surveys."
The Asian Waterbird Census occurs annually across Asian wetlands to build long-term datasets that help assess wetland health and track bird population trends. This systematic monitoring provides crucial information for conservation planning and habitat protection efforts throughout the region.
