Winter’s here, but avian visitors aren’t in sight yet

  • | Tuesday | 21st November, 2017

"Although water birds have not arrived in the city, forest birds have been spotted in the Western Ghats and streams. "Bird experts say erratic rainfall and polluted water are two major factors that may have turned the visitors away. "Under the Asian water bird census around 127 species of birds were recorded across 22 wetlands of Coimbatore spanning a distance of 45km. "Hundreds of birds of various species were spotted in wetlands last year. But this year there are just a handful," says Selvaraj.Subramanian, a bird watcher says he has spotted a few forest birds though.

Come winter and the many lakes of Coimbatore play host to migratory birds which fly down to this side of the Deccan for their annual sojourn. While the city recorded the arrival of around 7,079 migratory birds last year, bird watchers say the migration this year has been delayed by three months with barely a few birds visible in the host wetlands. Environmentalists ascribe the delay to reasons ranging from climate change and global warming to change in habitat that in turn was triggered by incessant fishing and dumping of garbage in lakes.Lakes such as those at Kannampalayam, Singanallur, Sulur, Sundakkamuthur, Ukkadam as well as the Vedapatti lake clusters play host to as many as 230 species of migratory birds each year. Among them is the endangered black-bellied tern and vulnerable species like the lesser adjutant (stork) and marbled teal; and other birds like the spot-billed pelican, darter, painted stork, oriental white ibis and the greater grey-headed fish-eagle."Hundreds of birds of various species were spotted in wetlands last year. But this year, we spotted barely a couple of birds in the marshes which usually are crowded with migrant species at this time of the year," says P R Selvaraj, a member of Coimbatore Nature Society.Joseph Reginald, a research scholar says that in Singanallur lake itself, they had spotted around 821 pelicans last season. "This year there are hardly 10 of them," he adds."Under the Asian water bird census around 127 species of birds were recorded across 22 wetlands of Coimbatore spanning a distance of 45km. Of these, 35 were migrant species. A total of 7,079 birds were recorded with an average of 322 birds in each wetland," says A Pavendhan, another bird expert.Bird watchers conducted a short survey of all 31 wetlands in the city in September and found that lakes such as Kurichi, Achakulam, Singanallur and Vedapatti — hotspots for bird watchers — wore a deserted look as some had gone dry and some had a very few birds. "Even local birds cannot be spotted there. Waders such as sandpipers, ducks and shovels are few. Thousands of rosy starlings were spotted last year. But this year there are just a handful," says Selvaraj.Subramanian, a bird watcher says he has spotted a few forest birds though. "Although water birds have not arrived in the city, forest birds have been spotted in the Western Ghats and streams."Bird experts say erratic rainfall and polluted water are two major factors that may have turned the visitors away. "Even though rains have filled lakes with water, some are still bone-dry as channels connecting them to other water bodies are clogged," says Pavendhan.Many hope the birds will arrive by December. "In January, we will conduct the Asian water bird census which will provide us some insight into the actual birding season," says city-based bird watcher R Sarayu, who has been visiting the wetlands almost every day.Scientists say climate change may be a possible reason for the delay. "Winter may have been delayed in the northern countries. We need to assess weather data to find out actual reasons. Unless studies are carried out, it is difficult to state the actual reason," says a scientist.

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