During this weekend, citizen volunteers from Kochi will move to some of the important wetland bird habitats of the district to take stock of the avian species there.
The two-day Wetland Bird Count - 2015 in Kochi region will begin on January 24. Birders will cover Kalathara, Kandakkadavu and Kuthirakkoor Kari wetlands (Thoppumpady) on the first day.
On Sunday, the wetlands of Kadamakudi and Devaswom Padam wetlands (Varapuzha) will be covered. The event, organised by the Cochin Natural History Society and Kerala Forest Department (Social Forestry Division), is part of the Asian Waterfowl Census.
The annual exercise is expected to generate information on “waterbird populations in wetlands in the region during the non-breeding period of most species (January), as a basis for evaluation of sites and monitoring of populations,” according to the organisers.
It will also help in annual monitoring of the status and condition of wetlands and generate greater interest in waterbirds and wetlands among people.
Last year, the bird enthusiasts had counted around 2,000 birds from the wetlands of the region, said Vishnupriyan Kartha, secretary of the Society.
The survey will also help in promoting the conservation of wetlands and waterbirds in the region. The bird count is usually held during the second and third week of January. The census was initiated in 1987 in the Indian subcontinent, and has grown rapidly to cover most countries of South Asia, East Asia, South East Asia and Pacific, as well as Russia, he said.
The Society had been coordinating the events in the region since 2011. Those interested in participating in the survey in Ernakulam should register themselves for the event by sending SMS and calls to 9446437410. The society could be reached through its email: cochinnaturalhistorysociety@gmail.com , Mr. Kartha said.
