MANGALURU: Manjalpaade, which is just 10 km away from the city, was once a haven for a large number of migratory and resident birds. However, increased human activities in the recent past have decreased the number of visiting migratory birds and also resident birds not only at Manjalpade , but also in the entire coastal region. Students and youth from the city visit Manjalpaade during monsoon to relish the natural beauty of a nearby stream and a small water fall at the spot. The area, which also attracted various types of birds, is now slowly losing its significance as a bird-watcher's paradise with a significant decrease in the number of birds there.According to Arnold M Goveas, a birder who frequents the area, major reasons for decrease in the number of birds are increase in construction activities, sand mining and dumping of debris in the area thus adversely impacting water resources too. He told TOI that Manjalpade was once an attractive spot for migratory and resident birds as the place had several streams and ponds of clean water. Moreover the Phalguni river flows in the vicinity too. Sadly, all the water sources are now polluted and even the river is not spared. Most of the habitat is destroyed or altered, denying birds food and shelter."Our coastal districts attract many birds but compared to previous years, there is a significant decrease of approximately 30 - 35% in the number of migratory as well as resident birds in Dakshina Kannada district," says Goveas, who has nearly 10 years of experience as a birder in the region. Birdwatchers have recorded close to 250 species of birds in and around Mangaluru, Northern shoveler, Northern pintail, Ferruginous pochard, Common pochard, Eurasian Wigeon and Baillon's crake, being some of them.Isabelline wheatear which is a small bird that breeds in Southern Russia, Central Asia to Northern Pakistan along with Pallid harrier, Western marsh harrier, Montagu's harrier and many other species from Europe and Asia are winter visitors to our coastal region, he said.Rivers, Estuaries, lakes, fields and green cover in Dakshina Kannada attract migratory birds. Kenjar, Polali, Manjalpaade and Chithrapu at Mulky are some of the areas that attract migratory birds during the period between September and March. After few months they return to their breeding grounds, says Goveas, adding that increased human activities have adversely affected bird sightings.

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