Hyderabad, Oct. 26 -- Migratory birds from Siberia, Central Asia and Europe have started arriving at the Nandur Madhameshwar wetlands in Maharashtra's Nashik district. But more arrivals, and the length of their stay, are likely under threat because the water body is being depleted for three reasons.

Climate change has brought an unprecedented early start to summer-like conditions, water was recently released to irrigate threatened crops and the wetland cannot be replenished from upstream dams.

Stabilising the water spread and keeping it that way through the entire drought period is critical to the bird sanctuary. Such a conflict between the water needs of humans and avians has perhaps not arisen since the Ramsar status was notified in 2...