This winter, visiting ducks test new waters

Exotic ducks from the sub-Himalayan ranges who have migrated this season to Jamshedpur and its outskirts have found themselves new aquatic abodes.

The Jayanti Sarovar of Jubilee Park in the heart of the city ' a favourite of the past ' is not their preferred home anymore. Rather, Subernarekha river and Cooling Pond, the manmade reservoir inside Tata Steel Works, are now their chosen haunts.

Species such as Common Teal (Anas crecca), Cotton Teal (Nettapus coromandelianus) and Tufted Pochard (Aythya fuligula) used to arrive in great numbers at Jayanti Sarovar every year in mid-November. They used to leave by March, just before the advent of summer.

Last winter, a few Common Teals were spotted at Jayanti Sarovar, but now there is no trace of this species in the sprawling lake.

Instead, around 50 Common Teals are seen waddling in Subernarekha along the Marine Drive, belatedly adding to the river's beauty.

"Birds chose the river to spend their short migration stint. At the Subernarekha, when I tried to count the birds, they were around 50," said K.K. Sharma, an avid bird watcher, who is also a member of Ornithology Society of India and professor of zoology at Jamshedpur Co-operative College.

He added that boating activities at Jayanti Sarovar had increased in the past couple of years, which was an apparent reason behind these birds staying away.

"A group of Tufted Pochards had descended at Jayanti Sarovar in mid-December but the birds left within 24 hours," he said.

But the river does not ruffle their feathers.

"At the tranquil Subernarekha, they are undisturbed in a natural ambience and can even feast on marine food in large quantities," added the bird watcher.

The ornithologist, who also keeps an eye on water bodies in and around the city, added that the reservoir inside Tata Steel Works had become another hospitable ' and attractive ' venue for the migratory birds.

Around 70-odd birds ' of Common Teal, Cotton Teal and Tufted Pochard species ' had come here in the second week of December, where they continue to stay.

For amateur bird-watchers who want to spot the visitors this season, there are some easy tips by which one can make out the species.

The Tufted Pochard has a contrasting black and white plumage. The Common Teal has a brightly coloured head, grey-blue-green plumage and a buff belly, and is a very gregarious bird which loves its flock. The Cotton Teal has a white head, neck and chest with glossy dark brown plumage. Males sport a black collar on their necks and a white bar on their wings.

Interestingly, the surplus monsoon in 2011 led to a surcharge in Subernarekha's water levels.

Before this, the river had become a trickle carpeted by water hyacinths (jal khumbis in local parlance) due to lack of adequate monsoon.