Winged beauties lose habitat

 Unchecked sand-mining from the Kadalundi estuary is posing a threat to migratory birds that visit the sanctuary.The mudflats in the estuary are fast disappearing owing to indiscriminate sand-mining. Thousands of migratory birds that reach Kadalundi during their seasonal transit would have to look elsewhere for feeding if the mudflats in the estuary are destroyed.A study conducted by a young ornithologist over the past four years has found drastic increase in sand-mining from the estuary. Over 5,000 boatloads of sand were removed from the mudflats in Kadalundi between August 2008 and February 2009. The heaviest mining was reported in December 2008, when over 1,800 boatloads of sand were removed from the estuary.K.M. Arif, a researcher who was with the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), observed that the number of boats carrying sand from the Kadalundi had multiplied over the last four years. Between September 2005 and May 2006, only 400 boats were found carrying sand. However, sand-mining has increased many times over since 2006. Mr. Arif counted 2,415 sand boats in the estuary between September 2006 and May 2007. In the next year, the number of boats was 2,340. But in 2008, the number recorded a sharp rise to 5,000. Unlike previous years, as many as 600 boats were seen in the river in August 2008. Mining almost comes to a halt when it rains in June and July.Mr. Arif warned that disappearance of mudflats would drive away the migratory birds, as they would not find a place to feed and rest. The mudflats of Kadalundi, which provide abundance of micro-organisms, including various kinds of crabs and worms, are the biggest attraction for migratory birds.A wide variety of migratory birds stop at the Kadalundi estuary during their transcontinental flights every year. They feed and rest on the mudflats for weeks before resuming their flight.The mudflats, which are exposed during low tide, would disappear if sand-mining is not controlled, said M. Nasser, lecturer at the Department of Zoology, Calicut University. He said the decrease in the number of birds visiting Kadalundi in recent years was a direct result of sand-mining.Birds such as masked booby, frigate bird, Eurasian spoonbill, gray heron, brown skua, pomerine jaeger, spotted redshank, and various terns and gulls are found in Kadalundi. Mr. Arif observed 86 species in the sanctuary.

 

The Hindu, 16th March 2009