VISIT TO GHARANA WETLAND

 We the students of PG Zoology Semester 2nd from GCW Parade Jammu, got an opportunity to visit an educational tour at RS Pura on 4th Dec. 2021. We were altogether 24 students along with our teachers and HOD Mam. The title of our visit study was

     "VISIT TO GHARANA WETLAND "

STUDY AREA : Gharana Wetland (reserve) is located out 30 km from Jammu city extending to the Pakistan border in the West of Ghrana village. This wetland is 8 km from Ranbir Singh Pura town. This area is located in RS Pura tehsil, west to Jammu city.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE AREA:
            Gharana wetland (reserve) located close to Indo-Pak border in Jammu district is home to the thousands of migratory birds during winter season. This has been notified as a protected water water and declared 'Important Bird Area' (IBA). The state government has accorded sanction to notify Gharana Wetland (reserve) in the interest of Wildlife preservation and development in J&K. The Deputy Commissioner of Jammu has declared the area' Wetland Reserve' under J&K Wildlife Protection Act,1978.
The reserve known as 'Bird Watchers Paradise' supports a population of different species during every winter with most of the species being migratory, endangered or covered under different schedule of the act.

      MAIN ATTRACTION 

The world's highest altitude migrants Bar-headed goose is the highest at Gharana Wetland. These migratory birds cover more than 1000 miles distance in a single day. These birds migrate to Gharana for a hospitable habitat from freezing temperatures of Central Asia. Some other famous birds found in and around Gharana wetland reserve include Cattle egret,  Black Stork,  Northern Pintail, Common teal, Northern shoveler, Red-wattled lapwing, Rock pigeon, Laughing dove, Common sand piper, Black watcher etc. It is a treat for any bird watcher to witness such varied species of birds at one place.


             MY EXPERIENCE 

When I visited there, there was a signboard in the  premises of the Wildlife Office stating that "Let us Welcome Migratory Birds and Ensure their safe stay". These speechless birds think that the villagers are calling them to visit this place as the name indicates GHAR ANA: meaning thereby plese visit your home.


About Soil:  The soil of the area is coarse loamy to fine loamy. The area around the wetland comprises of agricultural fields which produces one of the best varieties of basmati rice in J&K.



BIRD'S SPECIES THAT I HAVE FOUND:

1. Black- winged stilt: (Himanotopus himanotopus)



The black- winged stilt is a widely distributed very long-legged wader in the anocet and stilt family.
IDENTIFICATION: Distinguished by very long pinkish red legs and plumage largely white but with black wings and upper parts. These species are distributed in the Indian subcontinent, Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, North America and South America. 

2. Indian Pond Heron : 

                   ( Ardeola )


These pond herons are stocky species with a short neck, short thick bill, typically buff or brownish black and colored or streaked fore neck and breast.

  LIST OF BIRDS FOUND IN GHARANA WETLAND:




Around 5000 - 6000 migratory birds of different species flock in the Gharana Wetland from the northern hemisphere during the winter every year. 
But i have observed some few species of birds as the right time to visit for witnessing the arrival of migratory birds during the month of January to February and best time to see the arrival of famous bar headed geese is around 9:00 am to 10:00 am.

It is the only spot in Jammu to watch migratory birds of different species. We loved the spectacle. It was a live education centre for teaching to love environment, protect and preserve it.

I am very thankful🙏 to our college who organized such an educational visit to Gharana Wetland so that we come to learn how to preserve and enjoy the beauty of nature. 


Bibliography: All the photos of birds taken by me and map picture i have taken from internet. Information related to gharana wetland i have taken from my teachers and some from internet 
Name : Rishika Dogra
Roll No. 23

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