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Avifauna

Apart from the wild animals, almost 169 varieties of birds have been identified in Ladakh. These birds too, like the animals, make the best use of whatever shelter they can find. However, because of Ladakh's inhospitable climate, very few are permanent residents.

The Himalayan and Tibetan snowcocks-large majestic birds much hunted for their meat, and partridges breed at a height about 5,000 meters. The rest are visitors, moving down to the foothills in autumn in an annual ritual of altitudinal migration. Other birds move still further, horizontally following ancient routes of global migration.

The highest realm belongs to the birds of prey and carrion eaters. These include choughs, griffon vultures, ravens and lammergeiers(bearded vultures), which follow man and animal wherever they roam.

Choughs and ravens have been seen as high as 6,150 meters along with the lammergeiers, which have a spectacular three meters wingspan, which enables them to glide on high powerful upcurrents. Lammergeiers are never found far from mountains and locals awed by their size falsely believe them to be capable of carrying away young lambs.

Just before the snowline in the alpine pastures insects are numerous and a large number of seasonal birds cans regularly be seen feasting on this abundant food source. The barheaded goose breeds in Ladakh in large numbers.

In fact, the largest breeding colony within Indian limits exists on the north and south banks of the Tso Morari lake. Ladakh is one of the few places where the Mongolian plover can be seen. It nests and brings up its young in the month of July. This bird's 'distraction display' is a fascinating event to watch. The male pretends to be wounded and, wings dangling, drags himself along the ground to draw the predator's attention.

Meanwhile, the female plover quickly guides its young away from danger. Several other birds like the Tibetan sandgrouse- a beautiful fawn and cream-colored bird, the Siberian ruby throat or ogla mamber, meaning throat in flames, the brownheaded gull which is one of the earliest of the of the summer visitors, wall creepers, wheelers and red starts also visit Ladakh in great flocks.

By far the most majestic as also the most endangered species in Ladakh, is the black necked crane- a large handsome bird with a black neck and patch of red on its beak. They arrive in the second half of April or early May and build their nests in the middle of marshes. After approximately three weeks they lay two eggs within an interval of 12-24 hours. Both eggs are incubated after 18-24 days.

Invariably, however, one chick dies. By late October or early November the cranes, with their surviving chicks, migrate to eastern Tibet or South China. During certain years, however, when the snowfall is light, the marshes remain dry and food for the cranes becomes inadequate. Then they lay their eggs in dry areas, which are easily approached by predators.

The need for a water management plan for preferred nesting areas is acute. Meanwhile the army has been posting guards near these nesting sites to ensure that eggs are not carried away by predators or egg collectors who lift the eggs to sell them to tourists! Once the chicks grow large enough to fend for themselves, the guards are pulled back.

This deceptively calm Arctic desert is a world apart. Here breed some of the most resilient and beautiful species known to mankind. The stupendous, jagged mountains, glacier-born torrents, cruel cliffs and the vast wilderness of rock and sand inspired awe in the hearts of man and gave rise to the Bon religion which was based on a reverence for nature.

Ladakh was once the home of animism, and trances, demons and spirits, some of the ancient rituals of the Bon religion, have actually been incorporated into the Buddhism being practiced locally today.




Animals Found in Ladakh:

- Yak
- Nyan
- Urial
- Ibex
- Predators (Snow leopard, Brown bear, Wolf, Lynx)
- Avifauna



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