if winter comes, can Siberian migratory birds be far behind? Well that’s the perception people in this far-flung quaint block with a number of villages adjoining the only oxbow lake at West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas grew up with. And birds lovers and watchers from many parts of the world used to flock around the oxbow lake till some of these rare bird species stopped coming to this beautiful wetland to spend their winter vacation some years ago.

Magma Fincorp, Kolkata based asset finance firm along with Nature Mates-Nature Club have taken this initiative of bringing back Siberian migratory birds to Bengal lake in the winter.

Purbasthali is a quaint block with a number of villages adjoining the only oxbow lake of the state sprawling over 3.50 sq km. Every winter it became haven for thousands of migratory birds of different species.

At least this was the scene a few years back. The fact that Purbasthali is not a protected area, it handicaps the forest department from taking charge of the maintenance of this beautiful wetland. Since 2000, due to lack of rainfall, there was no overflowing water pressure, which can naturally eradicate a significant amount of water hyacinth from the lake to the river. Once lively lake lost its dynamics and turned into a clogged water body.

The birds lost their yearly sanctuary, and Purbasthali lost its charm.

“Natural management is the most efficient in reducing a significant amount of varied aquatic vegetation from this lake. Due to less rain for the last three four years and absence of heavy flood since 2000, there was almost no overflowing water pressure which can naturally eradicate a significant amo­unt of water hyacinth from the lake to the river,” said Arjan Basu Ray of Nature Mates-Nature Club.

The idea is simple, yet a lot of understanding of nature and environmental factors were taken account of. With the help of six hundred man days within 15 days including the help of three country boats and other logistic, a significant amount of water hyacinth were removed. This operation facilitated the mobility of the water body, created a significant opening for the birds and their shelter. It proved beneficial to the local fisherman and the eco-tourism operators too, he said.