Anser indicus, The Bar-headed Geese, return to the Basai Wetland in Gurgaon

Bar-headed Geese congregate in large numbers.

Bar-headed Geese continue to surprise us with their presence at the now-almost-dead wetland, once known as the Basai Wetland in Gurgaon. Once a vast expanse of marshes and shallow waters, the wetland home to indigenous fish species and freshwater turtles now presents a sorry figure. However, each time I visit this ever-shrinking biodiversity hotspot I am surprised by what I spot. 

Bar-headed Geese are quite gregarious.

This time when I visited the Basai Wetland in the month of March, I was surprised to see one of the largest flocks of Bar-headed Geese that I have ever seen to date. What is more, I could photograph them from quite close without disturbing them.

Some of the birds keep a watchful eye while others forage for food.

The best thing was that I was able to observe their activities very closely. Anser indicus or Bar-headed Geese live in close-knit families and are led by a leader who is always alert, looking for trouble. These birds have two distinct calls of warning. One is for danger on land and the other is a signal for the whole flock to take off. 

Ever alert, Bar-headed Geese look at the camera with suspicion.

Anser indicus are important migratory birds that have been studied extensively for their ability to fly at great heights in the absence of adequate levels of Oxygen. They are also studied for their ability to navigate over large distances, landing at the exact spot thousands of miles away from their nesting grounds. It is no wonder that these amazing birds keep visiting the Basai Wetland in Gurgaon year after year even though it is fast disappearing into a concrete jungle, because they have been programmed to reach their destinations. 

Bar-headed Geese can be seen in large numbers at the Basai Wetland

Bar-headed Geese follow important way-points or landmarks on their long flights. These waypoints are important landmarks, probably more so as Geographical features that are unique and distinct in nature. 

These birds were photographed at the Najafgarh Wetland

The Basai Wetland was once a pristine wetland covered with clean water spread over acres of land. Later on, it became a dumping ground for toxic effluents and even a convenient outlet for sewage flowing from a canal. At one time the stink from the sewage was so bad that one couldn't stand spending even a few minutes in the area. Today, the toxic effluents and the sewage have dried up leaving a toxic substrate on which these birds perch and settle. An acquaintance once commented on how harmful the water at the Basai wetland could be even for the Bar-headed Geese! I wonder why people are ready to buy flats in highrise buildings knowing well how the Basai Wetland had once become a dumping ground for sewage and toxic effluents.