To study migratory patterns of the birds, the Himachal Pradesh wildlife department has decided to strap radio-collar on migratory birds that come to the State this winter. Initially department will strap a tiny transmitter on three species of migratory birds, the bar-headed Goose, Ruddy Shelduck and Mallard. This project will go on for four to five years and will cost `40 lakh.

This is for the first time that the department has chosen to study migratory patterns of the birds, a large number of which come from trans-Himalayan places like Siberia, Russia, Central Asia and the Tibet region.

The State’s Forests official believes that radio-collaring of migratory birds will help to get authentic data on the pattern of migration, locations and the altitudes these birds cross before arriving at Pong Dam.