GUWAHATI: A solo Mandarin duck, spotted close to the Baghjan oil blowout site in upper Assam’s Tinsukia district on Sunday, unfortunately could not be seen on Monday. The beautiful migratory bird had created considerable flutter at the Maguri-Motapung wetland because of its sighting for the second consecutive year.
After over 100 years, the migratory bird was spotted in the Maguri-Motapung beel last year. Bird enthusiasts, researchers and local villagers had emerged on the western bank wetland to catch a glimpse of the winged guest. Many camped on the banks of the freshwater lake till dusk.
Experts opined it may have been a brief halt for the bird, which was on its way to its original habitat in China. Winter is on its way out and migratory birds start flying back to their homes at this time. But researchers are also apprehensive about the adverse impact on the food chain because of the blowout, which may have been the reason why the bird left the beel.
Last year, one Mandarin duck was spotted in Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh, whereas two others were seen in Dirang in the frontier state. Though birders could not come to a definite conclusion on how many crossed the Himalayas, the entry of the bird into Assam’s eastern most part was special. “The Mandarin duck is not a regular visitor. This bird feeds on water weeds. The Baghjan blowout incident had affected biodiversity in the nearby water bodies and the bird food chain may have been affected,” said researcher and associate professor of geography in Tinsukia College, Ranjan Kumar Das.
