In this part, you will find us returning from “Chaung-Wa” village back to Indawgyi lake. We were lucky to see more migratory and resident birds unexpectedly. This is “Brahminy Kite” a resident bird known as “Suun-gaung-phyu” in Myanmar. Their other habitats are- Tanintharyi division and delta region in southern part of the country.

Next we saw:-

-“Asian Open Bill” or Kha yu tote nghet” from South Asian;
-together with “Purple Heron” or ; “Nga hit nghet” from South East Asia,
-and more “Purple “Swamphens” and “Egrets”. Regarding climatic conditions, the annual rainfall here varies from (120-140) inches and the average temperature is about (23.5) degrees centigrade, while the relative humidity level is around 85 to 92%.
-Here are “Ruddy Shelducks” or “Hinthar” forum Central Asia, usually always found in couples, and
-“Common Pochards” from Mongolia and west part of Central Asia.
-Surprisingly a large group comprising- “Spot-Billed Pelicans” or “Nghet Kyi Wun Bo” and “Bar Headed Goose” or “Bear Ngan Gaung Gyar” were also there. Now, let us listen to the natural sounds they make in their various movements and this is how the “Spot-Billed Pelican” looks like at close range and the way they take off !
-We also saw “Common Moorhen” or “Yay Kyet Don” from Central Mongolia,
-“Common Coot” also a migratory bird,
-“Common Pochards” from Mongolia and west part of Central Asia,.
-cute little “Black Winged Stilts or “Daung-Lan-Chyay-Dauk-Nghet”, also a migratory specie with their sweet sounds,

-and “Little Cormorant”or “Din-Gyi” from southern areas between Indonesia and Australia. Now, let us look at the vegetation which attracts birds and fish. This area is rich in plant diversity. Although it covers only 2% of Kachin State, you will find about (500) species of vascular plants.

-Here are more “Common Moorhen” or Yay Kyet done” from Central Mongolia;
-“Oriental Darter” or “U Pan”, resident bird of South East Asia; “ Purple Heron” or “ Nga Hit Nghet” also from South East Asia were also found.
Here, I may mention that “Migration”requires many special ingredients. For instance, a common phenomenon among migratory water birds, is the tendency for the same kind of bird to stop at the same place, and use the same wet land as a non-breading site each year. This is thought to be related to the better chances of survival associated with knowing a habitat well :-

“Where the good food is; where the safe roots are; and the type of predators present, and ways of avoiding them”. Hence, Ministry of Forestry designated Indawgyi lake as “Indawgyi Wet Land Bird Sanctuary” in 1999. Its total area is almost (300) square miles, and currently, “13 ” species have keen declared as seasonally protected by the Ministry of Forestry, Government of the Union of Myanmar.

The conclusion part regarding “Unique Biodiversity of Indawgyi” will follow in

Part-6.