Wayanad is perhaps known as a hotspot of forest birds. But the recently concluded Asian Waterfowl Census reveals that waterbirds are also at home here, thanks to two reservoirs set up in recent times.
Ducks, cormorants and darters are coming back to its landscape after several decades, though in small numbers.
The survey was organised by the Hume Centre for Ecology and Wildlife Biology here in association with the Social Forestry Division, Wayanad, and the NSS unit of the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pookode.
Forty species of waterbirds have been recorded in Wayanad including a few new additions. A little Pratincole has been sighted in the Banasura reservoir and Lesser Adjutant Stork was sighted at Golur in the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS).
More than 100 Lesser Whistling Duck has been spotted in the Karapuzha reservoir.
“The species was at risk of extinction after rice fields, a major wetland ecosystem of the district, had undergone drastic conversion to fields of banana and other crops. However, the shallow waterbodies in the Karapuzha reservoirs have now became a safe haven for the birds,” C.K. Vishnudas, conservation biologist, Hume Centre, told The Hindu .
Interesting species that were spotted during the survey were Spot-billed Duck, Cotton teal, Grey-headed Swamphen, Eurasian Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Bronzed Winged Jacana and Pheasant-tailed Jacana.The number of birds had also increased compared to last year, Mr. Vishnudas, who coordinated the survey said, adding the large shallow waterbody of the Karapuzha reservoir also holds many water plants, creating a unique wetland ecosystem for many wildfowl to feed, reproduce and survive.
The Golur and Ammavayal areas inside the sanctuary became a good waterbird zone after the relocation of settler farmers from the area, R.L. Ratheesh, an ornithologist, who led the survey said.
‘We spotted Grey heron, Wooly-necked stork, Lesser adjutant, Little grebe, and Striated Heron in the waterbodies of the region,” he said.
Students from the College of Forestry, Thrissur, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pookode, and birdwatchers from across the State participated.
N.T. Sajan, Warden, WWS, Shajna Karim and Abdul Aziz, Divisional Forest Officers of Social Forestry and South Wayanad forest division respectively; provided logistical support for the programme.
