Thursday, Jan 13, 2011
http://www.hindu.com/2011/01/13/stories/2011011359380300.htm
POINT CALIMERE: A day-long bird census was conducted by the forest department here at the Point Calimere Wetland Complex at Kodiakkarai in Nagapattinam on Wednesday. The bird population estimation was part of the Integrated Water Bird Census conducted across all wetlands and bird congregations in the State.
A 45-member team of ornithologists and students were divided into nine teams to cover nine congregation zones. The methodology of block counting was adopted for clustered congregations, where flocks are divided into blocks. Individual counting was taken up for scattered birds.
The major sightings included Northern Pintail (Ducks), Gulls Terns, Bar-headed Goose among others. However, the number of Flamingoes, the flagship bird species of the Point Calimere Wetland Complex was sparse, running into few hundreds.
The Point Calimere Wetland Complex stretching from Point Calimere at Kodiakkarai to Thalainayar area hosts the largest feeding ground in the country for migratory birds from as far as the Arctic.
According to S.Balachandran, Assistant Director, Bombay Natural History Society that has its only field station in the country at Kodiakkarai, there has been considerable fall in the shore birds due to flooded swamps above the desirable limits. “If the water level is not ideal, it would affect the migratory shore birds that thrive on shallow waters,” says Dr.Balachandran.
Internationally, water bird enumeration is conducted during the first fortnight of January. For Tamil Nadu, this would the second year of such an exercise. Last year, the bird estimation exercise across the State recorded over seven lakh birds, and of them, a whopping 3,35,000 birds were recorded here in Point Calimere. This accounted for about 79 species, constituting over 53 per cent of the bird species, the largest among all the wetlands of the State. The enumeration exercise was preceded by a training session on the science and methods of ornithology and tools of identification though bird morphology.
A similar training for frontline staff of forest department from all districts was organised here a week ago. “What amounts to actual counting and mere estimate varies as per the type and the nature of the habitat. The purpose is to exact a trend, and to avoid duplication,” says Dr.Balachandran.
Speaking to The Hindu over phone, R.Sunderaraju, Chief Wild Life Warden (CWLF) said the enumeration was held in all districts with participation of the public, NGOs, school and college students.
The estimates would be collated within 10 days, the CWLF said. The census conducted by the district forest department under K.Soundarapandian, Wildlife Warden, was coordinated by the BNHS, which has its first and only field station in the Country at Kodiakkarai.
The sanctuary declared in 1967 for conservation of Blackbucks is also home to the Spotted Deer, Feral Pony, Wild Boar, Jackal, mongoose, Bonnet Macaque, Black-naped Hare and Indian star tortoise.
Tiruchi Special Correspondent adds:
Over 29 species of water birds were recorded at the Vettakudi-Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary in Ariyalur district during a water bird census conducted by the Forest Department on Wednesday.
The exercise was conducted by a team of 15 persons, including Forest/Wildlife officials, bird watchers and students. Split into three groups, the team members conducted the exercise from 5.30 a.m. at the bird sanctuary, spread over an area of about 450 hectares. According to S.Chandrasekaran, Wildlife Ranger, Thanjavur, among the 29 species of water birds, 15 were migratory.
Little and large egret, darter, little cormorant, garganey, common teal, little grebe, white ibis, glossy ibis, spoonbill, whiskered tern, blue kingfisher and pheasant tailed jacana were among the species recorded. Fourteen other bird species were also sighted, Mr.Chandrasekaran said. K.Subbiah, Forest Ranger, Ariyalur, and Amirtharaj, Ranger, Social Forestry, Ariyalur, also took part in the exercise.
