Over 4,000 waterbirds spotted

Special Correspondent
 Thiruvananthapuram
The Hindu, February 01, 2017

A considerable increase, both in the number of species and individual count, of water birds has been reported in the Asian Water Bird Census 2017 conducted in the capital district.
In the day-long census carried out on January 21 in nine different bird-rich sites in Thiruvananthapuram, the volunteers were able to count 4,442 birds that belong to 77 species, 27 of which are migratory, compared to the 2,431 birds of 49 species spotted during the 2016 census.
Great Bittern, which was spotted a few weeks ago in Thiruvananthapuram by a team from Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) after a gap of ten years, was again spotted at Punchakkarai, a hotspot of birding in the capital district.
Four species of Sandpipers, two species of Plovers, and four species of Wild Ducks comprising six Spotbilled Ducks were reported. Sighting of four Eurasian Spoonbills and a comparatively large group of Egrets were interesting sightings by the two teams deputed to this wetland.

 Akkulam, once a haven for water birds, which later on degraded owing to unscientific development and pollution, is showing signs of recovery. Around 25 species, including six species of Wild Ducks, namely Northern Showeller, Garganey, Northern Pintails, and a flock of 42 Spot-billed Ducks that are migratory and a group of resident Lesser Whistling Ducks were spotted. Sighting of Common Teal, a rare species in Kerala, Two Grey-headed Lapwing, 82 Common Coots, and four species of migratory Sandpipers also were spotted in the area.
Aruvikkara Reservoir, the main source of drinking water of the capital, remains a very good habitat for birds, including migratory ones. As many as 27 species, such as Pheasant-tailed Jacana, were reported from the reservoir and surrounding areas. A very good population of Egrets and White-breasted Waterhens also were reported from this site.

Wetlands within the city itself located at Kesavadasapuram, Government Medical College, and the two ponds within the Museum and Zoo compound also had good population of birds, including many migratory species such as Kentish Plover, Little-ringed Plover, a large flock of Yellow Wagtails, Wood Sandpiper, and Green Sandpipers. The ponds within the Museum and Zoo compound serves as a favourite shelter for Oriental Darters, a bird placed in the Red Data Book of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The Kannammoola Thodu also has a good bird population comprising 25 species, including many migratory ones such as 124 Common Swallows, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Wood Sandpipers, Green Sandpipers, and many large groups of resident birds such as Egrets. The big flock of 66 Cattle Egrets within and around the Thodu is a direct indicator of the large amount of solid waste being dumped into the waterbody.

 Out of the nine sites covered by the census, the highest count was from the wetlands in and around Kadinamkulam with 1,073 birds of 25 species. The major contributor to this was Little Cormorants (703). Sighting of ten Green Shanks, 22 Pacific Golden Plovers, 44 Brahmini Kites, and 61 Little Egrets indicates the rich biodiversity and good productivity of the wetland.

The team that visited the Veli estuary had some very interesting sightings comprising a wide range of birds that belong to 29 species, including a high count of resident birds such as Little Cormorants, Little Egrets, and Cattle Egrets. Osprey and 50 Lesser Sand Plovers were spotted at Poovar.

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Volunteers raised concerns over habitat loss and environmental degradation. That the newly recorded bird species were typically dry habituated ones was another issue. The teams were led by AWC coordinator and senior education officer, WWF-India, A.K. Sivakumar. The WWF-India was supported by the Social Forestry wing of the Department of Forests and Wildlife.