Synchronised census of wetland birds begins in Villupuram and Cuddalore districts
The Hindu
The synchronized wetland bird census in Villupuram, Kallakurichi, and Cuddalore districts involved 30 teams and aimed to gather data for conservation.
The synchronized wetland bird census conducted by the Department of Forests commenced in Villupuram, Kallakurichi, and Cuddalore districts on Sunday, January 28, 2024.
As many as 30 teams, each comprising a subject expert, four students, and Forest Department personnel participated in the census conducted in 18 wetlands including Kazhuveli sanctuary, Yedayanthittu estuary, and Oussudu sanctuary in Villupuram district, six wetlands including Pichavaram mangrove forests in Cuddalore district and 28 wetlands in Kallakurichi district.
Forest personnel from Villupuram and Cuddalore districts guided the student volunteers drawn from colleges in Mayiladuthurai and Tiruchi districts and Pondicherry University.
The annual census is being done by the Forest Department in coordination with the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) with technical support from the Universal Eco Foundation, a Puducherry-based biodiversity conservation organisation, and Kuyili (Hope for Birds) in Kallakurichi district.
The volunteers were briefed about the methodology of counting birds, at an induction programme before the census.
According to District Forest Officer Sumesh Soman, “The main objective is to obtain annual information of waterbird populations including those migrating from the cold Arctic breeding grounds to the wetlands in the region, the status of wetlands, and encourage interest in waterbirds and wetlands among the public and thereby promote conservation.”
He added, “The data collected from census is used as a management tool for Sanctuary/ Wetland reclamation and management. The data would be useful to compare the waterbird population trends between different years. Water samples will be collected on Monday and water quality parameters will be assessed in the laboratory. The Synchronised Terrestrial Birds census is scheduled for March 2 and 3 this year.”
