A TAGGED BAR HEADED GOOSE FROM MONGOLIA SIGHTED AFTER 4 YEARS IN KARNATAKA’S MAGADI BIRD SANCTUARY
Sadik Knk
In a rare sighting, a tagged Bar Headed Goose (YO3) from Central Mongolia has been sighted at Magadi Bird Sanctuary, Gadak district, Karnataka, India. One of them – YO3 was captured, tagged and released in 2013 from central Mongolia.
This bird has been sighted in India for the second time – first time in January 2016 and now on 10 December, 2020 when I was observing and capturing the arrival of this Bar Headed Goose species in large numbers.
This year, forest officials and bird watchers have reported the arrival of 7000-8000 birds in December first week in the Magadi wetlands which is a bird sanctuary and has been seeing the annual migration of this species from Mongolia every winter.
One of the tagged birds with a green band and no: YO3 was captured on camera between 11.30 am and12 noon and I did my best by observing and following it as this was at a close sight. After a one hour wait, I finally managed to capture it on camera as this is a rare opportunity. And capturing it amongst thousands of birds was very difficult. Immediately after this, I sent the pictures to BNHS for verification.
Madhumita, BNHS (Bombay Natural History Society) Bird Ringing informed me that the bird was in its 7th-year post banding.
The YO3 bird was tagged by researcher Dr Nyambayar from Mongolia and he has verified it.
In fact, Dr Nyambayar has stated, “It was captured and marked by us in Mongolia. The bird was banded on 12 July, 2013 at Terkhin Tsagaan Lake in central Mongolia. It was an adult male weighing 2600 grams at the time of capture. Previously, the bird was recorded in Magadi in January 2016.”
This year, the Magadi lake is teeming with Bar Headed Goose as the Karnataka forest department has taken all measures for its protection and conservation of its habitat. To see the species, tourists and photographers have been visiting the wetlands in hordes and in fact, this has resulted in disturbance to the birds.
In a region of some 7-10 kilometers, these vegetarian birds come in groups at 9.30 am after having their food for taking rest in the wetlands. Lot of protection measures are in place but more can be done as the Magadi bird sanctuary is turning into an international tourist destination.
(ALL PHOTO CREDITS : SADIK KNK,YELBURGA, TALUK, KARNATAKA)