Census records increase in waterbirds in T’puram
TNN / Jan 29, 2023, 08:18 (IST)
The Asian waterbird census was conducted in Kerala in January, and the results showed an increase of 65 in the total number of waterbirds in the district. This comes with a slight dip in species count, as the 11 teams counted a total of 5396 birds belonging to 70 species last year, but the birders have raised concerns about the quality of the habitats across all the wetlands except the Pazhanchira wetlands near Attingal. All the other 10 wetlands are facing multiple severe threats from anthropogenic activities, most of the waterbirds were reported from the Veli Estuary Akkulam wetlands, which made it better compared to last year's count. The lake is facing grave threats from unscientific developmental activities, reclamation and severe water pollution, but still the team could sight a few bronzewinged Jacanas oriental darters and a few other birds. The Museum and Zoo compound still remains a safe haven for the endangered oriental darter with year round nesting for other sites like Aruvikkara Nedumkad and Kannammoola Canal. The numbers were very low in terms of both count and species, but the concluding meeting of the survey was held at the Rajiv Gandhi Social Forestry Complex, PTP Nagar, which