Myanmar cyclone threatens water birds in delta region

Thu, Jun 19 07:29 PM

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) _ Water birds in Myanmar's Irrawaddy delta are under threat because much of their habitat was destroyed by Cyclone Nargis, a report said Thursday. The swamps and mangrove forests in the vast delta are home to a variety of water birds, including cranes, cormorants and bronze-winged jacana.

But the birds, which feed on crabs, fish and shrimp, are being threatened by the dramatic changes in their habitat caused by the May 2-3 cyclone, said the Eleven journal, a weekly magazine. It quoted naturalist Soe Nyunt, chairman of the Myanmar Bird and Nature Society, as saying many birds, including cranes and wild ducks, perished in the storm, which cut a swath of death and destruction through the delta.

More than 130,000 people were killed or are missing, according to the government. Soe Nyunt said 50 to 70 painted storks were spotted in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, in early June after migrating from their usual habitat in the delta.

He said the birds usually don't move to new habitats. "We have to study if these water birds will remain in the delta.

We have to rebuild the damaged ecology once the rescue and relief work of cyclone victims is over," Soe Nyunt was quoted as saying.

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