Where Did Our Birds Go? - Birds of Kashmir Valley

In this article, Baseera Rafiqi says the rich diversity of the state of Jammu and Kashmir can be seen in terms of its variety of bird populations and a history of lending home to thousands of birds every year. Read on to know more…

- Baseera Rafiqi

Some believe that the melodious voices coming from trees, backyards or gardens are dying down slowly but steadily and we might be at a stage of losing our tiny little creatures forever but unfortunately nobody is there to care about this problem.

The rich diversity of the state of Jammu and Kashmir can be seen in terms of its variety of bird populations and a history of lending home to thousands of birds every year. Some birds were of sacred importance and hence were an indicator of the upcoming season like the onset of winter or spring season. These birds would sing and appear in our gardens to inform us about the weather ahead. Beyond doubt, the Kashmir Valley is home to one of the richest bird populations because of its landscape, weather, and vegetation. Experts who have been studying birds believe that Kashmir is gifted. Salim Ali, a renowned ornithologist of India, once called Kashmir heaven on earth for migratory birds. While talking about the unique floral and faunal diversity of the Valley, Nazir Malik, Wildlife guard at the Dachigam National Park said, “Our valley has an unmatched reserve of biodiversity, no country can match our richness in terms of plant life, bird, insect as it is like an art form of God.”