Bar-headed Geese finally arrive in Gurgaon; Why do they have a discolouration around their beaks?

It was a welcome treat to spot Bar-headed Geese finally at the Chandu Budhera wetland. They seem to have been a bit late in arriving in Gurgaon, probably because of the weather conditions, smog, and pollution. Bar-headed Geese are known to travel long distances to winter in the northern plains of India. Earlier, they could be spotted at the now defunct Basai Wetland but now seem to be moving further and further away from the city due to urbanization and human activities.

Incidentally, Bar-headed Geese are known to travel at great altitudes where Oxygen levels drop in rarified atmosphere. It is said that Bar-headed Geese travel from Central Asia and Tibet and that they navigate accurately, landing on the same patch of land year after year. Bar-headed Geese follow important flyways utilizing important natural features, landmarks like rivers, mountains, relying on the position of the Sun, stars and magnetic fields to navigate. Bar-headed Geese are marvels of nature in terms of navigational abilities, resilience, and the ability to fly at great altitudes often over the peaks of the Himalayan mountains.

The movement of migratory birds, their appearance, and non-appearance are important indicators of the adverse conditions of the environment and ecosystems of each biodiversity hotspot. The movements of migratory birds also provide important information on food availability patterns. A study of migratory patterns of birds is an important indicator of changing climate patterns, deterioration of ecosystems, and perhaps, even important warning signs of the adverse impact of human development activities.  

I have been photographing Bar-headed Geese for the past ten years and have noticed how they have been shifting their wintering spots. Earlier, they would land and the now-defunct Basai Wetland, closer to the city, but now they are moving on. The Sultanpur National Park, the so-called Ramsar site, doesn't even attract them. It is high time that the powers did some research to understand the actual situation on site.

It is high time that environmentalists and authorities took cognizance of the environmental degradation that is taking place in Gurgaon due to development activities.

Please note that the reddish-brown colour around the beaks and the sides of the heads of the Geese is because of staining caused by an iron-rich mineral in the water. Some of the wetlands might also contain abnormally large amounts of industrial waste. 

Bar-headed Geese are graceful birds. They are aerodynamic, powerful, versatile and scientifically enigmatic. They defy logic, they have some of the best navigational systems and their migratory patterns are a subject of research. I have been obsessed with photographing these amazing birds because there is so much to learn from them.

The Bar-headed Geese Have Arrived!

Yesterday, Friday, the 7th of March, after a rather disappointing visit to the Sultanpur National Park, I decided to visit the Najafgarh Lake Zone at Chandu Budhera. On reaching the lake I was pleasantly surprised to spot hundreds of Bar-headed Geese! It was even more surprising to see them reach their nesting ground so late in the winter season. I spotted these birds in the month of November 2023. Incidentally, I did not spot any of these birds in 2024.

The late arrival of Bar-headed Geese in the Gurgaon district could be because of climatic disruptions, change in weather, and availability of feeding grounds. It is also pertinent to note that the birds that once could be spotted closer to the city have now chosen to visit wetlands that are farther away. The Sultanpur National Park rarely hosts Bar-headed Geese and the Basai Wetland is no longer a wetland.

Bar-headed Geese are fascinating birds. They are capable of flying long distances all the way from central Asia, Tibet and parts of Russia and Mongolia. Bar-headed Geese can fly at great heights were there is hardly any Oxygen to breathe. Last but not least, they are amongst the greatest navigators in the world!

Their late arrival in the district of Gurgaon, in Haryana could be because of unfavourable weather and climate conditions. Strong head winds, lack of food, and global warming might have impacted their migration to India. Yes, it is unfortunate that their stay will be marred by the approaching summer season.

Bar-headed Geese are now forced to seek other more lush and better resourced areas than the Sultanpur National Park and the now defunct Basai Wetland. It is a matter of great concern that human industrial activities, conversion of wetlands into residential areas, and the general apathy of various organizations has resulted in these birds switching to other locations. The reduced number of Bio-diversity hotspots, lack of wetlands, is driving away migratory birds from the plains of Northern India. This has implications for us. A reduction in water resources and forests, the vanishing green areas are bound to have a future impact on the livability index for human beings.