Wetland birds vanishing

Wetland birds may vanish from Kerala in the near future considering
their declining population trend. There has been an alarming drop in
the population as revealed during the recent water bird census. The
number of wetland birds in the State has dropped to 94,516 in 2007
from 1, 41,588 of 2004, according to the Asian Water Bird Census data
for Kerala. The situation has further worsened in 2008 in kole
wetlands where the bird population has come down to 30,618 against one
lakh in 2004, said P.O. Nameer, Kerala coordinator of Asian Water Bird
Census. The wetland bird census was held in sole wetlands, Vembanad
Lake, Purathur, Kattampally, Ashtamudi Lake and Kadalundi from 2004.
These wetlands account for the 95 per cent of the total water birds
counted from Kerala. All the wetlands except Purathur and Ashtamudi
showed rapid decline in the bird population. In Purathur, the bird
population increased to 29,837 from 11,272 of 2004. A marginal
increase was also observed at Vembanad where the population was
recorded as 26,801 against 24,744 of 2004, the survey revealed. An
alarming situation prevailed in Kattampally where the bird population
plummeted to 8,440 in 2007 against the 20,087 of 2004.Of the 31 bird
species of Kerala that are considered threatened as per the
International Union for Conservation of Nature standards, eight are
wetland-dependent ones. These include Spot-billed Pelican, Oriental
Darter, Black-headed Ibis and Black-tailed Godwit, said Dr. Nameer.
Dr. B. Sreekumar, coordinator of the survey in Vembanad Lake, observed
that there had been significant reduction in the number of migratory
birds that reach the region. Sandpipers, Greenshanks and Stints could
be hardly spotted during the surveys, he said. It was also observed
that the Cormorant population was on the increase. Besides the habitat
loss, there should be other factors that resulted in the fall in
number of migratory birds reaching the area, said Dr. Sreekumar who
also heads the Kottayam Nature Society.2009 census in January. The
2009 Asian Water fowl census will be held during the first three weeks
of January. The Census, to be held under the joint auspices of the
Wetland International, Kerala State Biodiversity Board and the Kerala
Forest Department would commence at the kole wetland on January 4.
Purathur will be surveyed on January 11 and Vembanad on 18. Bird
counting would also be held at 25 other wetlands across the State. The
survey aims to "obtain, on an annual basis, information on waterbird
populations for most species, at wetlands in the region during the
non-breeding period as a basis for long term evaluation of sites and
monitoring of populations", according to Wetland International. During
the survey, the status and condition of wetlands would be monitored.
It also attempts to create "greater interest in water birds and
wetlands amongst people, and thereby promote the conservation of
wetlands and waterbirds in the region."

The Hindu, 21st December 2008