Tirunelveli: A total of 28,831 birds belonging to 69 species were seen in the 12th edition of Tamiraparani Waterbird Count Count 2022.
TWC 2022 was carried out in 65 irrigation tanks in Tirunelveli, Tenkasi and Tuticorin districts on January 21 and 22.
More than 90 birding fans participated in the training organized by Atree’s Agasthyamalai Conservation Conservation Center, Mutiara City Nature Society and Nellai Nature Club with the Guidance of the Ministry of Forestry.
Among the original breed birds, livestock juntul (4,907) is the most visible, followed by black-headed ibis (1,752), small cormorant (1,574), ibis shiny (1,567) and whistling teal (1,480).
Whickered Tern (1,066), Garganey (845) and Barn Swallow (768) are the most visible among migration birds.
The highest number of birds is seen in the vellar tank (2,126) while Armugamangalam tank (40) has the highest number of species.
About 300 black-tailed Godwits, bird species that migrate from Siberia registered approaches are threatened with the international Union for the conservation of the Red Nature IUCN list, seen in Nainarkulam and 46 in Surandai Tanks.
Geese-headed bras that migrated from Mongolia and were known as one of the highest flying bird species seen in Vijayanarayanam, Puthukukukam and Kaluvur.
Cormorantwoolly-necked storks, a local migrant and bird species are threatened, counted in the tank Patti Midangkumeendan in the Kovilpatti area.
Vulnerable birds such as general Pochard breed in Europe and the Arctic region seen in Kupakurichikulam.
Gulavous whistling ducks that rarely occur in Tamiraparani Tank Basin are seen in the Arumugamelam tank.
Bill-Open-Bill Colony Breeding, Gray Heron, Oriental Darter, Little Cormorant, Shag Indian and Black-headed Ibis are recorded at the Gangaikondan tank.
A large number of oriental nursery colonies with chicks were recorded at the nainarchulan in the city of Tirunelveli while a large number of black-headed Ibis breeding colonies were recorded in the Soorangudi tank.
Likewise, the Openbill Asian breeding colony, black-headed ibis, Cormorant, Darter, Night Heron and a red-studded ibis were recorded in Thirupani Chettykulam in the Tuticorin District.
Nesting Gray Heron was recorded at Moopanpati Tank in Kovilpatti.
Black-headed Ibis, Heron Gray, Cormorant, Night Heron and Purple Heron nesting in a vagalac tank in the Tenkasi District.
Species such as duck spots, common COOT, WATERHEN sorts white, little Grebe and Moorhen are usually seen with chicks in many tanks.
The general COOT Although the number of birds seen in the TWC 2022 is the highest over the past three years, there is a decrease in the number of birds seen in Waterbodies in this region compared to Yesteryears, said the Twc M coordinator.
He told TI that the number of birds was higher in the number of seven years in the past with 67,194 birds from 72 species counted in 2014 and 60,966 birds of 70 species were calculated in 2013.
“There is a good spell in the past few years , leaving upstream reservoirs and tanks in the plains filled with full, “senior research associates at the Agrasthyamalai Atree community conservation center at Manimuthar said.
Mathivanan added that the birds were scattered when there was a rain surplus due to deeper water surfaces, making it difficult for them to hunt fish.
The wrong drawing method on the bund tank is another reason for large quantities of ducks and the like that consumes vegetation on bunds such as grass.
“We see more than 10,000 ducks in the amount carried out in two large tanks in the Tuticorin district of a decade ago.
But now it has been reduced to only 1,000 now,” said researchers.
By deception that manually left the bunds tapered towards the tank bed, he observed that the use of Earthmover had left the steep Bunds, destroying vegetation on the bund and also eliminating plant growth that relied on ducks and plovers.
Hyacinth of water and similar invasive species handed down by rain also destroys the original vegetation needed by birds.
They also suggest making mounds with vegetation in the middle of a large tank like Armugamangalam, so they can attract birds without interference from humans.
To save registered tanks, the organizers make recommendations to the district government to establish a biodiversity management committee in all local bodies to monitor birds and habitats.
They added that public work, rural development, income, forests and other lines must work together to manage the water body in Tamiraparani and flora and fauna that depend.