Bird count shows a marginal decline in migratory waterfowls wintering in Punchakari-Vellayani

The annual waterbird census was conducted in January

As temperatures plummet in the Arctic, a brownish bird, weighing around 400 grams, begins a non-stop flight from its home in frozen north-west Siberia to winter in certain Indian states. Flying more than 11,000 kilometres in nine days, the birds flies non-stop till they reach their destinations along the Indian coastline.

Known as the Bar-tailed Godwit ( (Limosa lapponica), this long-distance flier can be seen in the Punchakari-Vellayani area, in the suburbs of Thiruvananthapuram, during the months of December and January, one of the many species of migratory birds that winter in Kerala.

C Susanth Kumar, coordinator of Thiruvananthapuram-based Warblers and Waders, a group of naturalists and birders, says the Black-winged stilts, Perching Lesser Crested Terns (common tern species), Wood Sandpiper, Woodcock, Painted Storks, Glossy Ibis and Sand Plovers are some of the visitors that reach the shores of Kerala every year.  

Even before the sun is up, birders flock to the wetlands in and around the city to spot these visitors that thrive in marshy spots, estuaries, beaches, waterbodies and paddy fields in and around Punchakari-Vellayani, Veli, Aakulam, Poovar and St Andrews Beach.

A count of the migratory birds and residents has been taken every year since 1987, invariably in the month of January, by birders in association with World Wildlife Fund and volunteer groups. The Asian Waterbird census is part of the global International Waterbird census, which supports the conservation and management of wetlands and waterbirds.

For 33 years, members of Warblers and Waders have been part of the census in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam. In January, 23 volunteers, including college students and bird experts of Warblers and Waders participated in the survey led by experts such as Susanth, S Rajeevan, R Jayaprakash, K A Kishore, Dr Blessan Santhosh George, Dr M K Krishnakumar and G Santhosh Kumar.

“In Thiruvananthapuram, the waterbird survey was taken at Punchakari-Vellayani wetlands, Akkulam lake and Veli-Perumathura shore, says Susanth. “In Kollam, the survey was conducted at Pollachira wetlands near Chathanoor, Vellaanathuruthu beach and Azheekkal Beach near Karunagapally.”