‘VIP’ sighting at Kadalundi enthuses birders

Abdul Latheef Nahan MalappuRAm
The Hindu, January 20, 2019

The sighting of a lone Great thick-knee at the Kadalundi-Vallikkunnu Community Reserve last week has enthused researchers studying the annual migrant bird visits to the estuarine sanctuary.
Sujesh P.K. and Athira T.R., who have been studying the foraging habits of the shorebirds reaching Kadalundi from thousands of miles afar to escape the harsh winter, said Great thick-knee, also called Great stone-curlew, was sighted at Kadalundi for the first time in 14 years.
“We were so excited to find a lone Great thick-knee near a couple of Eurasian oystercatchers during an observation last week. It is a sign that new migrant species have begun to prefer Kadalundi,” said Ms. Athira.
She said Great thick-knee, though a local migrant, had not been reported at Kadalundi since 2005. “We have the complete data of migrant species that reached Kadalundi during winter in the last 14 years. Although the presence of several rare species was reported, it’s the first time we could see an extremely sensitive Great thick-knee in the sanctuary,” she said.
Mr. Sujesh said they could observe the ‘VIP’ only from a good distance because of its sensitive nature.
“It was feeding voraciously on small crabs in the mudflats using its powerful beaks,” said Mr. Sujesh. The researcher duo had found a few Bar-tailed godwits and Eurasian oystercatchers at Kadalundi a couple of months ago. Both those birds have been listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as near-threatened species. “Those birds, particularly Bar-tailed godwit, are not among the common migrants reaching the Kerala coast during winter,” said Mr. Sujesh.

Researchers upbeat

A bird known for long, non-stop inter-continental migration, Bar-tailed godwit too has given fresh hopes for researchers by re-emerging at Kadalundi after many years. Ms. Athira and Mr. Sujesh demanded that efforts be made to prevent all kinds of waste, particularly poultry and slaughter waste, from reaching the community reserve.
The waste gets caught in the mangroves, inviting scavenger and predator birds to the region. Waste is the predominant reason for the presence of crows and kites in the sanctuary. “Crows and kites scare away the migrants, however large the visitor birds are. Ridding the mangroves and mudflats of waste is the best way to handle the threat the migrant birds face from crows and kites,” said Ms. Athira.

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Jackal spotted for the first time in PTR

Giji K. Raman, IDUKKI
The Hindu, January 17, 2019

The presence of a jackal was reported for the first time in the Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) recently. Patric David, a researcher at the Periyar Tiger Conservation Foundation (PTCF), noticed the animal near a penstock pipe carrying water from the Mullaperiyar dam to Tamil Nadu on January 9. It was later photographed by naturalist Rajkumar. After scrutiny of the photograph and the descriptions of its behaviour, it was confirmed by wildlife experts P.S. Easa and Vivek Menon as the golden jackal. It is believed that the animal might have entered the forest from the eastern side of the Western Ghats.

Usual habitat

Mr. Easa who has been conducting animal research at the PTR from 1990, said this was the first sighting of jackal (Canis aureus) in the area.
The photograph is the first evidence of its presence. Jackals are mostly found in open areas with thorny shrubs. Researchers at the PTR said that the animal might have either entered the PTR in search of the remains of carnivorous animals such as tiger or leopard or reached the area after being separated from its group.
Compared to the eastern side of the Western Ghats, which is in the rain shadow area, the PTR is green and has fewer geographical features preferred by the Canis aureus species. It is notified as an animal in the category of ‘Least Concern’ on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List. Native to Southeast Europe, Southwest Asia and South Asia, its presence is widespread in areas where food is abundant. It is also seen in groups near tributaries or lakes and is rarely found in foothills and low mountains.

Tribes’ version

However, a tribal leader at Mannakudy settlement near PTR said their ancestors had seen jackals scavenging from burial sites. As jackals mostly move during night, their presence is not easily noticed. An official at the PTR said there were no records yet of the presence of jackal in the area.

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In a first, Wayanad’s vultures surveyed

 E.M. Manoj, KALPETTA
The Hindu,  January 17, 2019

The first-ever vulture and raptor survey that concluded in the Wayanad landscape recently recorded 24 species of raptors and four species of vultures.
The three-day programme, organised by the Forest and Wildlife Department, was held in the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS) and two territorial forest divisions, including the South and North Wayanad Forest Divisions.
Raptors come under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and have apex predator status in an ecosystem.
The Indian vulture (Gyps indicus) was spotted at Kakkapadom under the Muthanga forest range of the sanctuary after five years, N.T Sajan, warden,WSS, said.
“Nearly 100 white-rumped vultures, including 34 at Kakkapadom and 35 at Narimanthykolly in the Tholpetty forest range, were spotted during the survey. While 15 red-headed vultures and an Indian vulture were sighted at Kakkapadom, a Himalayan griffon was spotted at Narimanthikkolly,” Mr. Sajan, who supervised the survey, said.
Sixty-four wildlife enthusiasts across the State, including 10 students of the Centre for Wildlife Studies, Pookode, and 10 students from the College of Forestry at Vellanikkara, took part in the survey. Sixteen base camps were set across the landscape for the purpose.

Major species

The major species of raptors recorded during the survey included Legge’s hawk eagle, Oriental honey buzzard, Shikra, Booted eagle, Common kestrel, Crested- hawk eagle, Short-toed snake eagle, Black eagle, Lesser-fish eagle, Crested-goshawk, Jerdons baza, Common buzzard, Grey-headed fish eagle, Greater -spotted eagle, Shaheen falcon, and Eurasian sparrow hawk, O.Vishnu, wildlife biologist, WWS, said.

Owl species

Five species of owls, including jungle owlet, brown fish owl, oriental scops owl, and barn owl, were also recorded during the survey, Mr. Vishnu added .
Sandeep Das, research fellow, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Thrissur; Roshnath Ramesh, research fellow, Central University of Kerala, Kasaragod; R.L. Rabish, College of Veterinary Science, Pookode; and Ashok Kumar, Centre for Wildlife, Pookode; led various camps.
Ornithologist Sathyan Meppayur conducted an orientation session on vulture and raptor identification.

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Waterbird survey spots three new species

Staff Reporter, Alappuzha
The Hindu, January 14, 2019

A waterbird survey conducted in the Upper Kuttanad region has recorded 16,767 birds of 47 continental and local species. The survey, conducted as part of the annual Asian Waterbird Census, has spotted three new species — Greater flamingo, Grey-headed lapwing, and Blue-cheeked bee-eater.
However, compared to the previous years, the number of winged visitors to the region has declined drastically. In 2017, the survey recorded 28,198 birds whereas 41,576 were spotted last year. According to B. Sreekumar of the Kottayam Nature Society and Harikumar Mannar, the birder who led the survey, the August deluge and subsequent delay in preparing paddy fields for the Puncha crop season could be the reason behind the sharp fall.

15 places

This year, the survey was conducted in 15 places. Ikkaramukku and Naluthodu Padasekharams registered the highest number of bird sightings. Lowest number of birds was recorded from Karuvatta and Thakazhi.
The survey was jointly organised by the Social Forestry wing of the Forest Department, Kottayam Nature Society, and Alappuzha Natural History Society. A total of 72 birders from across the State took part.
The Asian Waterbird Census is part of the global International Waterbird Census (IWC) carried out each January as a voluntary activity. The survey would help understand the changes to wetland systems, change in migratory pattern of birds, and impact of climate change. The information gathered during the survey would be used to promote the designation and management of protected areas, Ramsar Sites, Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs), and so on.

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Cold spell worries for Eravikulam park

Giji K. Raman, Idukki
The Hindu, January, 13, 2019 

The cold wave that began on January 1 has not only affected tea plantations in Munnar but also the grasslands of the Eravikulam National Park (ENP), the natural habitat of the Nilgiri tahr.
The upper reaches of Munnar have been experiencing temperatures below 00 C since the start of the month, which is unusual, and mercury dropped to -40 C after a decade in the region. Munnar Wildlife Warden Lakshmi R. told The Hindu on Saturday that vast areas of grasslands in the ENP had dried up.
She said it was a matter of concern as the area would turn fire-prone well before the drought season. She said Pampadumchola was experiencing sub-zero temperature continuously and mercury dropped to -40 C there.

Widespread damage

“Normally, temperature will rise after one or two days and the damage to the flora will be limited. However, this time the damage is widespread,” she said adding a field study would be conducted to analyse the effect of climate change in the region. Rajamala, one of the main areas where neelakurinji blossomed last year after 12 years, was inside the ENP. The August floods had damaged buds and flowers and its effect would also be studied, she added.
The germination period of neelakurinji had just started and it was being analysed to learn the effect of the floods on the flora. The changes in climate conditions were clearly evident in the Western Ghats as its eastern side formed part of rain shadow areas.
Ms. Lakshmi said controlled burning had already been done on 600 hectares of grasslands and new tender grass appeared with the winter season. It might not immediately cause any shortage of fodder for the fauna, including the Nilgiri tahr, she said. However, a drought situation much before the advent of the summer season raised concerns of wildfires. If the situation continued, fodder could be in short supply too, she added.
The changes in the climatic conditions and its effect on the flora and fauna would be studied and recorded for management purposes, she added.

 

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Battling the invasion of Vellayani Lake by invasive plant species

S.R. Praveen, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
The Hindu, January 13, 2019 

When dancer Daksha Sheth came back to her home in Vellayani in October last year, after being away for a couple of months, she could not believe her eyes. The crystal clear water of Vellayani Lake near her home was nowhere to be seen. All she could see was a carpet of green water weeds, interspersed with purple plants.
Though invasive species has been a problem at Vellayani Lake for some years, the pace of this takeover was something new. Around the same time, Dave Ojay, a Kenyan student at the Kanthari International Institute for Social Change situated at the lake bank also talked about the problem at the institute.

Mobilising people

“Dave was involved with a movement to save Lake Victoria back home in Kenya. He found the same problem in Vellayani. He told us that the lake will be dead if we don’t do something now. He initiated a movement, gathered people and started cleaning the lake. Since then, we have been trying to mobilise people and have cleaned the lake at least every weekend,” says T.Ajith Kumar, Administration Manager at Kanthari.

New species

While water hyacinth has been a major problem for years, new exotic species like the purple coloured Cabomba caroliniana began spreading over the past decade.
According to a preliminary study conducted by the Department of Environment and Climate Change recently, other invasive species that have been noticed are Eichhornia Crassipes, Limnocharis Flava and Salvinia Molesta.
The purple-coloured Cabomba, which has spread considerably in recent months, is a native of North and South America.
It obstructs the free flow of water, gradually leading to stagnation and drying up of the lake.

Drinking water source

Vellayani Lake, the second largest freshwater lake in the State, is the source of drinking water for Kalliyoor and Venganoor grama panchayats.
“With silting on the lake bed and the constant pumping of water, the depth has reduced considerably. The shallow water allows these weeds to take root easily. A group of students have been helping us out in cleaning parts of the lake,” says Ms.Sheth.
Abhijith Nair, a young engineer, who has been part of the cleaning activities says that he has not seen such a rapid takeover by invasive plants all his life.
According to John C. Mathew, Environment Programme Manager, Department of Environment and Climate Change, the fine clay sediment and the nutrients from the agricultural fields nearby has led to the sudden spread of the invasive species. “Species like Cabomba, which were introduced to most of our wetlands from aquariums in recent years, spread quite rapidly.
“The only way to fight this is to manually uproot these plants,” he says

Action plan

The Wetland Authority has prepared a Management Action plan for these wetlands. The process for notifying them as per the Wetland Conservation and Management Rule of 2017 is currently on.
Once that is done, we can take conservation activities, for which we will get 50% Central funding.”

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Winged visitors at Kuttanad

Radhakrishnan Kuttoor , Pathanamthitta
The Hindu, January 10, 2019

With winter setting in, the paddy fields of upper Kuttanad have started receiving winged guests from far-off places.
Majestic Greater Flamingos, spotted at Vaniyamkadavu in the Chennithala paddy fields, are among the avian guests this time around. Benny Ajantha, wildlife photographer and birdwatcher, filmed five Greater Flamingos at Vaniyamkadavu on Wednesday.
Hundreds of migratory birds reach the State to escape from the cold in the northern hemisphere.
Mr. Benny said group of Greater Flamingos included a juvenile too.
Hari Mavelikara, birdwatcher and district coordinator of the Bird Atlas project and bird monitoring activities, told The Hindu that the flamingos found in the country during December-January were on their breeding migration and their main concentration was in the Koonthankulam bird sanctuary, near Tirunelveli, in Tamil Nadu.
A large number of Northern Pin-tail, Garganey Ducks, and Little Ringed Plover were among the other migratory birds found at Vaniyamkadavu this year, he said.
Mr. Hari said the Greater Flamingos Phoenicopterus roseus were the most widespread of the six species of the Flamingo family. Their breeding migration extended towards Kazkhstan and Europe too. In India, they bred in the Rann of Kutch and were widespread winter visitors to the plains.

Rare in Kerala

The Greater Flamingos are rare visitors to Kerala. Two of them were spotted last year at Ezhupunna and a few in the Kole fields of Thrissur earlier. Mr. Hari said Black tailed Godwit, Wood Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Little-ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Pacific Golden Plover, Little Stint, Temmink’s Stint, Western Yellow Wagtail, Barn Swallow, Greater Spotted Eagle, Eurasian Marsh Harrier, Ruff Northern Shoveler, Whiskered Tern, Small Pratincole, and Oriental Pratincole were the other migratory birds that visited upper Kuttanad during December-January to return in February every year.

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