Highest number of waterbirds recorded at Vembanad

TheHindu. January 20, 2015 
KOTTAYAM,  

The Vembanad Waterbird Count 2015, taken up by the Department of Forests and Wildlife and Kottayam Nature Society, has recorded highest number of wetland and wetland dependent birds ever recorded.

According to B. Sreekumar, coordinator, 57,828 birds have been sighted from the 10 sites surveyed. They belonged to 54 families, Dr Sreekumar said. This healthy development is, however, dependent on the huge number of ducks counted at Kaipuzhamuttu areas. The area has recorded 31,232 Northern Pintail ducks and 16,501 Lesser Whistling Ducks. It has also recorded the highest number of bird species at 34.

In fact, Kaipuzhamuttu areas has recorded a steady increase in the bird population, except in 2013, during the past five years. Bird species such as Oriental Darter and Black Headed Ibis were listed as ‘near threatened’ while the Greater Spotted Eagle was listed as ‘vulnerable’ as per the IUCN Red List, Dr Sreekumar said.

What was of concern was the fact that while Kaipuzhamuttu area registered the highest number of birds, the KTDC held Kumarakom Tourist complex area, which once boasted itself as one of the finest bird sanctuaries, had a lesser count at 182. Pathiramanal, another tourism spot, recorded the second lowest bird population at 507 while it also had the lowest number of bird species at 15. Dr. Sreekumar called for regular monitoring of the area especially during the migration season when thousands of birds descended on the paddy fields. He also called for introducing incentives for informants on poaching.

The bird count initiative had formally commenced on Saturday evening when 150 participants joined the base camp organised at the Regional Agriculture Research Station, Kumarakom. The actual survey was conducted from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Sunday morning in area that commences from Thollayiram Kayal near RARS to Nedumudy-Bhoothapandy area close to Alappuzha-Changanassery State Highway.

This year’s Vembanad conservation Award was presented to K. Binu, member, tree authority committee.

 

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Painted Stork nesting sighted at Kumarakom

George Jacob
The Hindu, KOTTAYAM,April 14, 2014

Bird watchers here are elated as rare and exotic water fowls are selecting Kumarakom as their nesting destination.

The latest of the sighting was that of Painted Stork, which has been sighted for the first time nesting in Kerala.

The study conducted by Shiby Moses, naturalist at Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, has identified nesting of these exotic birds at the sanctuary area.

Further study by N. Unnikrishnan, secretary, Kottayam Nature Society, has uncovered three nests in the area. According to B. Sreekumar, president of the society, more nesting places are believed to be inside the sanctuary since Painted Storks nest colonially on trees.

These large, colourful birds stand nearly one meter tall. Their distinctive pink tertial feathers give them their name. Painted Storks, listed in the Red List prepared by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), were usually sighted in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, but not in Kerala, Dr. Sreekumar said.

The sighting shows that these large wading birds, though widely distributed in the plains of Asia, are now expanding to new areas.

Good news

The arrival of the Painted Storks is good news for the tourism industry. Kokrebellur village in Karnataka attracts thousands of bird lovers during the nesting season for the sole reason that it is a well-known Painted Stork nesting destination.

“With the arrival of these birds, Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary needs special conservation strategy,” said Dr. Sreekumar. While, the largest secure Painted Stork population is found in India, they have become victims of bird trade in neighbouring Pakistan.

They were nearly wiped out in Thailand while small populations had been sighted in Cambodia and Vietnam, it is pointed out.

The latest water fowl census held jointly by Kottayam Nature Society and the Department of Forests and Wildlife, the 14th in a row, had sighted a pair of Sand Martin, perhaps for the first time in Kerala.

However, this was from Narakathara area a few kilometres away from the bird sanctuary. The census had registered a marginal increase in the bird population in the Vembanad lake area.

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