Birds Of Kashmir

Description

The Kashmir Valley has been fabled down the ages for its natural beauty. It has best been described as an emerald set in pearls, with ’emerald’ describing the lush, fertile Kashmir Valley and ‘pearls’ representing the lofty snow-clad Himalayan peaks that encircle it. The valley is home to a rich biodiversity which includes a large number of bird species, many of which are unique to Kashmir. Unfortunately, it’s environment is being seriously degraded by the combined onslaught of violence, pollution, global warming and habitat destruction due to human encroachment, unplanned tourism and deforestation. India’s best-known ornithologist Salim Ali once called Kashmir “heaven on earth for migratory birds”. Indeed the local people are much more aware of the migratory ducks and geese rather than the resident species and not much seems to have changed from the 1890’s when W.R. Lawrence commented that “birds have a happy and carefree existence in the country” …. “the Kashmiri knows little about birds ….. and though he takes considerable interest in the songbirds he is ignorant of the habits of the feathered kingdom.”