Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Induchoodan remembered

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Induchoodan commemoration programmes organised by the city-based ‘Warblers and Waders’ as part of the 17th death anniversary of ornithologist K.K. Neelakantan, better known as Induchoodan, concluded here on Sunday.

The three-day programme included power point presentations and photo exhibition on birds of Kerala. Photographs of around 200 bird species found in Kerala were displayed at the exhibition held at the Museum Auditorium in the city. These included snaps of rare and endemic birds of Kerala belonging to various habitats like wetland, high ranges and forest.

“This year also marks the 50 anniversary of Indoochudan’s book ‘Keralathile Pakshikal.’ For the same reason our programmes are focused on the birds of Kerala. The photo exhibition includes pictures by 12 photographers, most of whom are also avid bird watchers,” said programme coordinator C. Sushanth. Some of the endemic species featured in the photo exhibition were black-and-orange Flycatcher, broad-tailed Grass Bird and Nilgiri Flycatcher which are endemic to the Western Ghats. Photographs of threatened bird species like Great Black Woodpecker, Spot-billed Pelican and Grey Pelican and winter visitors like Painted Stork, Marsh Sandpiper and Golden Oriole were also displayed. Lesser Noddy, Yellow-eyed Buzzard and Nilgiri Wood Pigeon were some other rare species displayed at the exhibition.

“We have also displayed pictures of wetland birds found in Thiruvananthapuram which have started vanishing because of loss of habitat due to land reclamation. Birds like the Great Egret, Weaver Bird and Purple Heron that were once common in the Vellayani, Punjakkari and Akkulam areas of the city are now only rarely spotted,” Mr. Sushanth said.

He said the exhibition and related programmes elicited good response, especially from youngsters. The programme also included a documentary ‘Angels in Tiger Land’ by lepidopterist and wildlife photographer Suresh Elamon on the butterfly species of Periyar Tiger Reserve. On Sunday, a power point presentation of ‘World of Birds’ by C.G. Arun was also held.

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Induchoodan remembered

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