Dharamshala, Feb. 3 -- The Pong Dam wetland, nestled in the picturesque Kangra valley of Himachal Pradesh, has witnessed a decline in the bird numbers this time, with over 1.24 lakh waterfowl flocking the wetland, compared to 1.53 lakh last winter.

The number of flagship species, bar-headed geese, has also seen a sharp decline this year. Experts have attributed the decline to prolonged dry spell and changing weather patterns. As many as 1,24,344 water-dependent birds of 115 species were recorded this year, reveals the annual count which was conducted on Sunday. These comprise migratory, resident and other associated wetland species. Officials said that a major share of the population was migratory birds.

The Annual Water Bird Census 202...