The wetland experts and budding ornithologists under the banner of the Birds Society of Andhra Pradesh (BSAP) began waterbirds census in the at least 100 identified wetlands in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
The census would also count the migratory birds which set their winter home in the wetlands, from the Nowpada swamp, the Sompeta Beela (wetland), the Coringa sanctuary to the Kolleru lake, Asia’s largest freshwater lake spread over the Krishna and West Godavari districts. The programme is part of the Asian Waterbird Census. “The census has been scheduled between January 26 and 29 in Kolleru and January 20 and 21 in Coringa,” BSAP Secretary (Honorable) M. Shafaat Ulla told The Hindu over phone.
A team led by expert Sudheer Murthy will cover the wetlands in northern Andhra Pradesh while another team led by Suresh Mahankali will cover the Chittor district. “January is said to be an ideal period for the count, particularly the migratory birds. All aspects would be documented.”
The census will highlight and record the number of birds, rise or fall in the number and availability of prey and the conservation efforts. Andhra Pradesh wildlife authorities would also join the census, a copy of which would be submitted to the Bombay History and Natural Society.
“The BSAP will prepare a detailed report based on the data collected by all the experts and submit it to the Netherlands-based ‘Wetlands International’, an NGO, for initiating wetlands conservation efforts,” said Mr. Shafaat Ulla.
