As many as 166 species of birds were sighted during the two-day state-wide synchronised wetland bird census conducted in Coimbatore on Wednesday and Thursday. Of these, 79 were wetland birds and 87 were associated birds.
Of the 166 species sighted and recorded, 32 were migratory bird species. As many as 92 species were resident birds, while 42 were resident cum migratory birds. Forest Department officials said that a maximum of 89 bird species were recorded at Vellalore lake and surrounding areas. Around 1,604 individual birds were recorded at Ukkadam lake. Some of the species recorded during the survey were Comb duck, Bar-headed goose, Black-tailed godwit, White wagtail and Western marsh harrier. Observers also sighted a group of around 150 Whiskered terns at Irugur lake.
More than 67 volunteers were involved in the survey. Nine civil society organisations and two academic institutions also took part in the two-day exercise.
The survey, jointly conducted by the Forest Department with WWF India and Centre for Urban Biodiversity Conservation and Education, had covered 25 small and big ponds in Coimbatore, most of them part of Noyyal River System.
