The State’s bird ‘record’ — the observation of a particular species at a particular date, time and place — has reached one million, making Tamil Nadu only the third State to achieve this distinction after Kerala and Karnataka, according to the eBird India Portal, a platform designed for birders to record their sightings.
“House Crow comes first in the list of 25 birds, and is followed by Common Myna, Large-billed crow, Black Drango, Asian Koel, Rock Pigeon, Yellowed Billed Babbler, Red-Vented Bulbul and White Throated Kingfisher,” said P. Jeganathan, a birder who is also a member of the Tamil Birders Network.
The efforts made by the Tamil Birders Network to popularise birding and eBirding through annual meets (since 2014) as well as the initiation of the Pongal Bird Count (being taken since 2015) and the contributions of various other birding groups (such as the Coimbatore Nature Society and The Nature Trust, Chennai) and individuals from across the State have been credited with helping reach this milestone.
Mr. Jeganathan, however, noted that a large fraction of eBirding in Tamil Nadu was down to a handful of districts. “The next challenge will be to try and spread out birding more evenly across the State, so that the overall condition of the birds of Tamil Nadu can be assessed and monitored,” said Mr. Jeganathan.
Coimbatore has 2,94,242 records and Kancheepuram comes next with 1,72,606 records. Chennai has 83,568 records.
When asked whether there were specific reasons for finding a particular species in greater numbers, Mr. Jeganathan said it depended on the place where a person was birding, adding that birders would normally see birds which were common in that particular location and season.
“If you are in Pallikaranai in winter (September-April), you are likely to see Gargany — winter visitor duck species, which comes from the northern hemisphere, since it is cold there during these months. But you will see Black Kites in the garbage dump (in Pallikaranai) throughout the year because they find their food there. Also, you will see Ferel pigeons in the middle of the city throughout the year and in large numbers. Since they adapt easily to city life they breed throughout the year,” Mr. Jeganathan explained.
He said that in Tamil Nadu, the priority was to save the vanishing Vultures. They are seen only in the Satyamangalam, Masinagudi and Moyar regions.
“The use of Diclofenac (painkiller for cattle) killed them and now they are critically endangered. They breed only once a year and lay only one egg. So, more than the Emerald Dove — the State bird of Tamil Nadu — we should be worried about Vultures now,” he said.
