After illegal mining ban, more Floricans visit Madhya Pradesh

INDORE: Bird lovers have a reason to rejoice. The number of migratory bird Lesser Florican, locally known as Likh and Kharmore, has increased by almost 50% in Madhya Pradesh this season. As many as 34 birds have arrived in the region this year as compared to 19 birds in 2014. Bird watchers attribute the increasing number of Lesser Floricans to change in crop pattern and administration’s move to check illegal mining in their habitat.
Lesser Florican migrates to Sailana Bird Sanctuary, Sardarpur Bird Sanctuary and Petlawar, all in western parts of the MP, for breeding in July and stay here till October-November. This season, the number of birds has almost doubled as compared to previous year at Sailana and Petlawar and Lesser Florican was spotted at Sardar after several years.
Ornithologist Ajay Gadikar said farmers in Sailana have switched from soya to traditional crop, which is attracting the birds. Order of National Green Tribunal to ban illegal mining in the area has also yielded results. “Ratamba forest patch in Petlawad range of Jhabua has come up as a second ideal habitat for the endangered Lesser Florican in state. Earlier, only 3-4 birds would be seen here, but this year, the count has increased to nine,” said Gadikar adding that the area should be marked as an Important Bird Area (IBA) under the Indian Bird Conservation Network (IBCN) programme.
Chief conservator of forest (CCF) PC Dubey said to protect and develop habitat of the endangered bird, his department had developed different varieties of grass and water bodies, besides encouraging farmers to cultivate pulses. Cultivation of soyabean was identified as one of the reasons for decline in migration of Floricans as Soybean needs regular use of pesticides to kill insects, which is main food of Lesser Florican. The bird eats insects killed by pesticides that badly affect them.