The first GPS-tagged photographic documentation on avian diversity at Eco Park has been prepared to promote it a bird refuge for enthusiasts and ornithologists
Green crowned warbler is a rare finding in the Eco Park grassland. Photo: Anupam Pal More than 66 bird species, including resident and migratory, have been recorded roosting in the relatively unobstructed and safe pockets of New Town’s Eco Park, adjacent to Kolkata.
This Global Positioning System-tagged photographic documentation, a first, is aimed to promote Eco Park as a ‘bird refuge’ for birders, bird photographers, nature journalists, enthusiasts and ornithologists.
There has been no baseline documentation earlier on the avian diversity of Eco Park. Such a documentation is needed to implement long-term conservation methodologies and sustain ecological balance inside the heart of the city.
This GPS-tagged photographic documentation on avian diversity has been prepared by non-profit Nature Environment & Wildlife Society (NEWS) and West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (WBHIDCO), a public sector undertaking.
It would help promote the visibility of bird species and their richness inside Eco Park and position it as a model to understand biodiversity.
Common snipe is spotted with Chinese nylon kite thread entangled in claws. Photo: Pradyut Choudhury
The bird species captured in the video footage of Eco Park include:
Birds are potential indicators on the ecological aspects of any habitat. Several bird species have abandoned their natural habitat owing to increasing demand for urban development.
Birds also face other threats such as pollution, felling of trees, grassland degradation, major use of non-biodegradable products, entanglement in Chinese nylon kite thread, use of pesticides and other toxic chemicals.
The beautiful Blue-throated flycatcher is a rare visitor to Eco Park. Photo: Sumit Kumar Moulik
Ajanta Dey, joint secretary, NEWS as well as IUCN member from India, told this reporter:
You cannot avoid urbanisation, but there has to be sustainability in it. Such urban parks are designed to include biodiversity aspects. They entertain visitors. They can also be designed to integrate biodiversity, birds and plants.
The data is a checklist of birds found in the park and its surroundings. The area is spread across 480 acres or 194 hectares.
Resident avian species are noticeable around the year in all the four seasons around this region. However, migratory birds are spotted only during the time when they are en route to other places.
A local resident, D Daschoudhury said the entire region was a Bheris (fish farming area) a few decades ago. Numerous Siberian birds landed in the wetland covered with salt meadows, salt marshes, ponds and sewage farms.
Roosting and breeding depends on availability of food. The birds got accustomed with the territory but development led many bird species to disappear from the area. That is how Salt Lake town was born and got its name.
Eco Park in Newtown is the largest park in Kolkata as well as India. It was established as an urban forest ecosystem and to encourage sustainable ecotourism by the Government of West Bengal.
The park, located in Action Area-II of New Town, the newly developed sister city of Kolkata, is an extended part of the East Kolkata Wetland, a Ramsar Site. Hence it carries a history of an excellent urban and semi-urban ecosystem.
Eco Park is divided into 10 parts:
Debashis Sen, managing director, WBHIDCO Ltd, said: “Our next target is to carve out a biodiversity heritage zone in Eco Park.”
Notably, the area hosts several mammals, including marsh mongoose, small Indian mongoose, palm civet and small Indian civet. Some reptile species such as water monitor lizard and yellow monitor lizard, which is an endangered species, have been reported sheltering around 100 plant species, including fragmented grassland in this zone.
Forest Wagtail is a rare passerine bird found in Eco Park. Photo: Sumit Kumar Moulik
Dey said, “The ecosystem of this grassland needs to be restored since it houses turtles, lizards, mammals, snakes and birds. If humans can have spaces for themselves then we should give them their breathing spaces too.”
Eco Park was inaugurated by Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal December 29, 2012. However, it was opened for visitors January 1, 2013.
Around 6,000-7,000 people visit the park during the weekdays. However, the number increases to 16,000-17,000 visitors on the weekend.
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