Seventy-five years after the 'birdman of India' Salim Ali conducted a survey in the erstwhile princely States of Travancore and Cochin, six-member team of ornithologists led by C.Sasikumar has taken up a study tour of the area, retracing the footsteps of Dr.Ali. th team will visit the same spots on the same dates of Dr.Ali's visit 75 years ago.
The team started the tour on January 3 and has completed its survey of Marayur, Santhanpara and Thattekkad. On Saturday, they visited the CMS College campus, Kodimatha, Travellers Bungalow and the Kumarakom paddy fields in and around Kottayam Town.
Interacting with the media, Mr.Sasikumar saud though thet had not taken up an analytical study of the collected so far, some disturbing trends were visible, such as the total absence of vultures in areas like Marayur. Vultures were a common bird during Dr. Ali's survey, they pointed out. Another distressing finding was that insectivorous birds had abandoned the tea and cardamom plantaions.
Unlike the survey conducted 75 years ago when ornithology was in its infancy in the country, the present study has not only incorporated new standaedised methodologies, but has expanded the information about the ecosystem, climatic changes etc, . the paddy fields in Marayur have turned into rich sugarcane plantations and the shoal forests in Munnar area have become gardens. The impact of change in the ecosystem on the avian population and diversity is visible, said Mr.Sasikumar. the study has so far identified 165 avian species in Marayur, 107 in Munnar, 105 in Santhanpara, and 168 in Thattekkad. So far, 219 species if birds have been identified, he said. The team members were delighted to note that some rare species of birds were found during the survey. These included Eurasian Cragmartin, Amur Falcon, Sclay Thrush, Brown rock Pipit, Slaty-legged Crake and Lesser fish eagle. In addition among the 16 species endemic to the Western Ghats, Nilgiri Flycatcher, Black and Orange Flycatcher, White-bellied Short wing and Broad-tailed Grass Warblerr have also been identified. The team could sight a healthy population of Cotton Teal and Spotted Billed Duck in thee first day's survey in Kodimatha area in Kottayam. However, with the expansion if the town to these areas, they were threatened with a fast deteriorating ecosystem, Mr.Sasikumar pointed out Dr.Ali's survey started on January 3,1933 and continued till December 31 that year. The new survey will continue till December 31, 2009. The team will visit Arumboli, Balamur Estate and Kanyakumari, which were part of Travancore then, but are in Tamil Nadu now.
The team started the tour on January 3 and has completed its survey of Marayur, Santhanpara and Thattekkad. On Saturday, they visited the CMS College campus, Kodimatha, Travellers Bungalow and the Kumarakom paddy fields in and around Kottayam Town.
Interacting with the media, Mr.Sasikumar saud though thet had not taken up an analytical study of the collected so far, some disturbing trends were visible, such as the total absence of vultures in areas like Marayur. Vultures were a common bird during Dr. Ali's survey, they pointed out. Another distressing finding was that insectivorous birds had abandoned the tea and cardamom plantaions.
Unlike the survey conducted 75 years ago when ornithology was in its infancy in the country, the present study has not only incorporated new standaedised methodologies, but has expanded the information about the ecosystem, climatic changes etc, . the paddy fields in Marayur have turned into rich sugarcane plantations and the shoal forests in Munnar area have become gardens. The impact of change in the ecosystem on the avian population and diversity is visible, said Mr.Sasikumar. the study has so far identified 165 avian species in Marayur, 107 in Munnar, 105 in Santhanpara, and 168 in Thattekkad. So far, 219 species if birds have been identified, he said. The team members were delighted to note that some rare species of birds were found during the survey. These included Eurasian Cragmartin, Amur Falcon, Sclay Thrush, Brown rock Pipit, Slaty-legged Crake and Lesser fish eagle. In addition among the 16 species endemic to the Western Ghats, Nilgiri Flycatcher, Black and Orange Flycatcher, White-bellied Short wing and Broad-tailed Grass Warblerr have also been identified. The team could sight a healthy population of Cotton Teal and Spotted Billed Duck in thee first day's survey in Kodimatha area in Kottayam. However, with the expansion if the town to these areas, they were threatened with a fast deteriorating ecosystem, Mr.Sasikumar pointed out Dr.Ali's survey started on January 3,1933 and continued till December 31 that year. The new survey will continue till December 31, 2009. The team will visit Arumboli, Balamur Estate and Kanyakumari, which were part of Travancore then, but are in Tamil Nadu now.
The Hindu, 16th February 2009
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