A team of researchers from the Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) has reported the sighting of the Great bittern, a bird species that was last spotted in Kerala in 2008.
The bird, which is also known as Eurasian bittern (scientific name: Botaurus stellaris) , from the Vellayani-Punchakari wetlands was spotted by project associate Sujith V. Gopalan and principal scientist Linda John on Thursday. The bird was last spotted at the Kole wetlands in Pullazhi, Thrissur, on May 11, 2008, according to official records. The sighting of the species by the KSBB team was its first photo documentation from the State, official sources said.
Elusive
Mr. Gopalan pointed out that the Great bittern was a wading bird in the Bittern subfamily ( Botaurinae ) of the heron family Ardeidae. The species is an elusive bird and is seldom seen in the open. They prefer to skulk within reed beds and thick vegetations adjoining waterbodies.
The species was sighted during a visit by the researchers of the board as part of a biodiversity documentation of the wetlands. The Vellayani-Punchakari wetland has been home to several birds and is a hotspot for birding.
The number of species documented in and around the freshwater lake in the State capital has been on rise for the past many years. An increase of over five species has been reported in 2016 alone. However, this cannot be necessarily viewed as an encouraging trend.
Climate change
“The increase is primarily due to the fact that the region has been gradually drying owing to climate change or global warming. Bird species such as Hoopoe, which is usually seen in dry regions, were also sighted here recently. There has been a significant fall in the water level in the Vellayani lake,” he said.
He pointed out that while species such as Black-headed ibis and Painted stork were sighted in the State in the 1990s, they were were perceived as part of the increasing biodiversity in the region. However, it later turned out that such sightings were a warning sign. While an abrupt reversal of the trend is unlikely, mitigation steps that could be undertaken at a local-level include afforestation and measures to bring down carbon footprint.
