Birds: The Power of Wetlands | Saving Earth | - BIRDS DISTRIBUTION IN WETLANDS

    The Power of Wetlands | Saving Earth | - BIRDS DISTRIBUTION IN WETLANDS

Seas, rivers, lakes or stream birds can be pelagic, coastal or even spend long period of time inland and away from the ocean. Some birds have a large wing span enabling them to glide and fly greater distances and for longer periods of time. Other has short wings that help when diving into the water in pursuit of prey. Most aquatic bird have webbed feet to assist them on the water surface or when diving. There feathers can be waterproof and they have more feathers than land birds which help to protect against the cold and wet. Many seabirds are migratory, partially migratory or dispersive. Seabirds have four main feeding techniques 

▪ Surface feeding when flying or swimming 

▪ Pursuit diving

▪ Plunge diving 

▪ Scavenging and predation

Their diet consists of flying fish, small fish, aquatic invertebrates, squids, bird’s eggs and catch of other birds. Rivers, lakes, streams and marshes make a wonderful habitat for large number of birds. The grasses, shrubs and crowd trees which are exist at the banks harbours different type of insects. Flowers, fruits and seeds are present at the banks which attract large number of birds for feeding, mating, sheltering, protection and nesting.

The Indus Delta is an important ecological region, home to the largest arid mangrove forest in the world.

Wetlands are extremely rich in biodiversity: waterbirds such as herons, egrets, swans, ducks and geese, and waders use wetlands during the majority of their lifetime

A significant number of birds and mammals depend on freshwater wetlands for breeding and feeding. Wetlands are some of the planet’s most productive ecosystems

At least 12% of all Globally Threatened Birds, (146 species) depend on wetlands. The most important types of wetlands for these birds are lakes and pools, rivers and streams, bogs, marshes and swamps, and coastal lagoons.

According to Pakistan Wetland Programme, Pakistan has around 225 natural or man-made wetlands

Babusar Lake is one of the most beautiful Alpine Wetlands.

Many migratory birds are wetland dependent, using wetlands during their migration and breeding seasons.

Wetlands support high concentrations of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrate species. Of the 20,000 species of fish in the world, more than 40 per cent live in fresh water. Wetlands are also important storehouses of plant genetic material. Rice, for example, which is a common wetland plant, is the staple diet of more than half of the humanity.

    Types of wetlands in Pakistan include; flood plain wetlands of major river systems and their extensive network of tributaries; saline and temporary wetlands of arid and semi-arid expanses inland; coastal system such as lagoons, backwaters and estuaries; mangrove swamps; marine wetlands; and marshes.