The number of endangered black necked cranes, roosting in Bumdeling in Trashiyangtse has steadily declined over the years. In the early nineties more than two hundred black necked cranes were recorded. But today, a little over a hundred are spotted every winter.
Bumdeling Gewog until a few years received the highest number of Black Necked Cranes turning the gewog into a paradise for bird lovers. Elderly residents now say the number is dwindling. 66 year old Phurpa Wangdi saw the cranes when he was 13. In those days, despite people hunting the birds, the number remained steady, said Phurba Wangdi.
The biggest threat to Bumdeling Crane habitat was the recurrent floods, destroying the crane habitat as well as paddy files. Gabion walls have been erected to protect both the crane habitat and the fields, but to no avail. Today, we feed the cranes hay and built artificial island for them to roost during night said the Chief Forestry Officer, Pankey Drukpa.
Local residents like Phurpa Wangdi blame the decline in crane population to indiscriminate urbanization and human encroachment. Many paddy fields have been lost to developmental activities like roads, schools, houses and other infrastructure facilities, he added.
The other roosting grounds of the endangered Black Necked cranes are Phobjikha and Gyetsa in Bumtahng among others.
