Sukhna Wetland – Lifestyle for Environment

Northern Pintails, Gadwalls, Common Pochards, Red Crested Pochards, Northern Shovelers, Black-headed Gull, Ferruginous Ducks, Eurasian Wigeon, Eurasian Coots at Sukhna Lake – March 2023

India took over the presidency of G20 Summit 2023 and among over 50 cities across India, Chandigarh has been picked to host two meetings on key topics. It is a matter for pride for all of us and the Chandigarh Administration. The theme of India’s G20 Presidency is – “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Earth · One Family · One Future”. Essentially, the theme affirms the value of all life – human, animal, plant, and microorganisms – and their interconnectedness on the planet Earth and in the wider universe. The theme also spotlights LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), with its associated, environmentally sustainable and responsible choices, both at the level of individual lifestyles as well as national development, leading to globally transformative actions resulting in a cleaner, greener and bluer future.

Sukhna Lake, Chandigarh – Winter 2022-23

If we observe the Sukhna Wetland, we would be proud of the fact that the Sukhna Lake, Chandigarh represents city approach to our G20 Presidency theme, of living in harmony with the surrounding ecosystem. This winter season i.e. 2022-23, more than 20 species of winged guests from different parts of the world have preferred the cleaner, greener and bluer environment of City Beautiful to spend their winter.

These winter visitors had started arriving in the month of October 2022 and most of them are here till end of March 2023. This clearly shows that the City’s Lifestyle stands fit with Environment, as the winged guest feels comfortable here to spend their winter.

Ferruginous Ducks flying over Sukhna Lake, Chandigarh

The first to arrive was Ferruginous Ducks, followed by Northern Shovelers, Ruddy Shelducks, Common Pochards, Eurasian Wigeons, Northern Pintails, Eurasian Coots, Greylag goose, Gadwalls, Tufted Ducks, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Bar-headed Goose, Red Crested Pochard, Mallards, River Tern, Common Teal, Pallas’s Gull, Black-headed Gull, Brown-headed Gull, Garganey

A flock of Eurasian Wigeons led by Tufted Ducks at Sukhna Lake – March 2023

Ruddy Shelducks at Sukhna Lake, Chandigarh – Winter 2022-23

Sukhna Lake, Chandigarh – Winter 2022-23

Greylag Goose at Sukhna Lake, Chandigarh – Winter 2022-23

Gadwalls at Sukhna Lake, Chandigarh Winter 2022-23

Red – crested Pochard at Sukhna Lake, Chandigarh–Winter 2022-23

Mallards at Sukhna Lake, Chandigarh, Winter 2022-23

Northern Shovelers

Bar – headed Goose at Sukhna Lake, Chandigarh

Eurasian Coots at Sukhna Lake, Chandigarh Winter 2022-23

Northern Pintails & Eurasian Wigeons at Sukhna Lake, Winter 2022-23

Black-headed Gull at Sukhna lake, Chandigarh – Winter 2022-23

Northern Pintails & Northern Shovelers flying over Sukhna Lake, Chandigarh

Flocks of flock of Eurasian Wigeons, Common Pochards, Tufted Ducks and Gadwalls, Sukhna Lake March 2023

4 Garganey with 86 Tufted Ducks at Sukhna lake, March 2023

Brown-headed Gull escorted by 28 Tufted Ducks, Sukhna Lake, March 2023

Let’s all pledge to continue to take steps, may be small to protect over environment and keep it cleaner, greener and bluer so that in the coming years also these winged guests keep the city beautiful in their preferred destinations list.