While it snows in the Himalayas hundreds of species of birds migrate to the plains and the large water bodies in the northern and eastern parts of India. They come for six months every year and after the wintery chill is over, they return to their homelands. However, this time, the delayed onset of winter has delayed the arrival of the khanjan species of birds known as wagtail by around a fortnight. Interestingly, these birds have found references in the ancient scriptures and many Indian poets have used the beautiful eyes of ‘Khanjan’ to portray the beauty of their heroes.
Ornithologist Dinesh Bhatt said that the big- eyed wagtails have started reaching the plains of Haridwar and the Ganga wetlands, albeit a bit later than the usual time of their arrival. Out of six varieties of this species, three are migratory in nature which come from Leh and Ladakh, some parts of Kashmir valley, Kullu Manali and Niti – Maana to spend their winter in the wetlands of Ganga and some water reservoirs. They return when the spring sets in for breeding.
Commonly known as ‘Khanjan’ or wagtail, the three common migratory species are grey, yellow and black/ white. The grey wagtail is identifiable with its yellow stomach and its continuous wagging of its tail up and down.
Speaking to The Pioneer, Bhatt said, “The Himalayan wagtail migrates not just to the northern India but down to Mumbai and the southern plateau.
Their memories being sharp, they remember their migratory locations well. The gardens and areas to which they come one season remain vivid in them and they continue to come there infallibly in the subsequent years too.”
The famous litterateur and Hindi poet Maithili Sharan Gupt was so much impressed by this bird that in his epic work ‘Saket’, he compared the beautiful eyes of Lakshman of Ramayana with its eyes.
He says, “Nirakh sakhi yeh khanjan aaye” (the friend of Lakshman’s wife Urmila says that the Khanjan birds have brought the message of prince Lakshman from the forest)