GAIGHAT: The Triyuga River and the environs are facing growing migration of birds, thanks to increasing encroachment upon wetlands. Human encroachment upon the wetlands in the area has threatened the habitats of birds.

"The locals have intruded into the riverbanks at Chuhade, Gaighat, Jogidaha and Hadiya, Siwai and Sundarpur and started growing vegetables. It has resulted in loss of birds' habitat and the prey," said a local resident Buddha Ghurandas Chaudhary.

Around 500 hectares of the land have been encroached in the area from Chuhade on the riverbanks.

The river area was a home to various bird species like egret, crane, duck and jungle fowl. But, nowadays, these birds rarely appear, said another local Amendra Bahadur Khadka.

Migratory birds from Siberia and Europe also reach the Shaptakoshi River bordering the Triyuga river area, said local ornithologists.

Major prey of birds is fishes and frogs, but they have disappeared following the encroachment of wetlands, which prompts birds to migrate elsewhere, said a local school teacher Rajaram Rai.

With this, the authority here has showed concerns over the wetland encroachment.

The local government would focus on conserving the area, said the Triyuga municipality mayor Baldev Chaudhary. "We are taking initiative to develop 30 kilometers area from Triyuga to Tapeshwori of Saptakoshi River as habitats for birds. A survey has started in this regard."