NEW DELHI - The war in Afghanistan could have a long-term impact on the health of birds migrating from central Asia to India every year but the effects may take a while to appear, an Indian ornithologist said on Tuesday.

About 200 species of birds including the Siberian crane, shoveller duck, crested poacher and Arctic tern begin their journey from Russia and central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to India at the end of October or the beginning of November each year.

The birds stop to refuel at many wetlands in Afghanistan during their 6 000 -7 000 km journey that takes them to various bird sanctuaries across India.

"The bombing may have a long-term impact on birds migrating to India. The chemical contents in the bombs could enter the food chain," Abrar Ahmed, senior programme officer at World Wide Fund for Nature India, told Reuters.

Ahmed said while the migration of birds this season had been normal up to now, ornithologists feared the chemicals released from the bombing could enter the birds' bodies and affect breeding cycles in the long run.

"The chemical contents will be stored in the fat layers of the birds, making their return journey much tougher. And that could prove fatal," Ahmed said.

"The chemicals can also be passed on to their eggs," he said.
He said past studies on the impact of pesticides on peregrine falcons had shown that a high content of the non-biodegradable, insecticide aldrin had led to a decline in the bird population and had also affected the nature of their egg shells.

"The egg shell became so thin that it was crushed by the weight of the mother," Ahmed said. "If one chemical could have such an impact, so many chemicals can certainly pose a danger."

It will not be known until December or January when most of the birds usually reach their destination in India whether the heavy bombardment of Afghanistan by US-led forces has reduced the numbers arriving. - Nampa-Reuters