It was a cool Sunday morning with traces of rain clouds all over Chennai, but for those who geared up — literally so with lifejackets, binoculars and cameras with lenses the size of your arm — for a pelagic bird census off the Kasimedu harbour, it was a tad worrying as rain and thunderstorms could end their trip even before it began. But to the delight of the 15 participants, the sea turned out to be calm and the day, fulfilling.
The motley group comprised pelagic birds experts, seasoned birders and those who took to the sea for the sheer adventure of it. Having travelled approximately 30 km into the sea, they spotted a variety of birds, and their number and time of sighting were diligently recorded. Pelagic birds are those that live entirely in the sea and touch land only for breeding.
“Up to six truly pelagic species could be spotted, identification of one of which is pending,” said birder Dipu Karuthedathu, who was among those who conducted the first organised pelagic bird survey in the country off Kannur coast in Kerala in 2010.
As the boat — an ordinary fishing boat with a few fishermen on board — surged forward and the shores fell far behind, one began to notice butterflies, in different sizes and colours, seeming very sure about the course of their journey. “Yes, they still remain a mystery,” said Dipu. But before one finished wondering about the motive and stamina of the Tigers, Crows, Jezebels and Emigrants, all butterfly species, an excited Dipu called out, “We have a flock of Flesh-footed Shearwaters at 12 O’ clock.” Now, 12 O’ clock or 3 O’ Clock were indications of the direction where the birds were sighted. Flocks of around 300 birds could be observed at a point of time. The boat gently went behind a few more flocks of Shearwaters as the brown birds with long, powerful hooked bills nimbly negotiated the agitated waves.
Apart from Flesh-footed Shearwaters, Wilson’s Storm-petrels, Bridled Terns, Streaked Shearwaters and a Pomarine Jaeger were recorded. Large Skuas, possibly Brown Skuas or South-polar Skuas, were also sighted.
Imagining the complex interplay of so many factors –temperature of the sea water; shifting of the monsoon winds; physiology of these divergent groups birds that equips them for such arduous expeditions; the umpteen variety of fishes they prey on – under an overcast sky with rippling sea all around was as fascinating as observing the winged visitors from across continents.
Chithra V., a teacher with The School KFI, and one of the two women members of the group, said: “I read up about the possible birds that we might see the night before. I was quite surprised to see so many birds, many of them for the first time. ”
Subramanian Sankar, an avid bird watcher who works for Air India, thanked C. Sylendra Babu, Additional Director General of Police, Coastal Security, Tamil Nadu, for permitting census of pelagic birds off the coast of Tamil Nadu.
If you are interested in birdwatching and need more information, you may contact Mr. Sankar at 9840111606.
(The report had mentioned the birds as being from the northern hemisphere. The reference has been removed as some of the birds are from the southern hemisphere. The error is regretted.)
