The second annual ornithological survey in the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS) has revealed a decline in avian population in the region.
As many as 175 species of birds were spotted during the survey as against the 189 species recorded during the survey in the corresponding period last year.
The survey organised by the State Forest and Wildlife Department concluded on Monday.
The birds, including 14 species of raptors belonging to Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 10 species of woodpeckers, eight species of doves and pigeons, three species of kingfishers, and seven species of babblers, were recorded in the sanctuary, C.K. Vishnudas, ornithologist who coordinated the survey, told The Hindu .
Many a bird species, including migratory birds such as Leaf warbler, Oriole, and Indian blue robin, were not sighted during the survey, Mr. Vishnudas said. He said it might be due to the good summer rain experienced in the region and they would have returned to their breeding grounds.
Waterbirds
Fourteen species of waterbirds were also spotted. Indian cormorant was spotted for the first time in the sanctuary, Mr. Vishnudas said.
Leggee’s hawk eagle, the only hawk eagle endemic to the Western Ghats, was also spotted during the survey. Nests of Forest eagle owl and Asian brown flycatchers were spotted for the first time in the sanctuary, he said.
As many as 60 birdwatchers from three southern States participated in the three-day survey. They stayed in 14 anti-poaching camps inside the sanctuary and conducted systematic transects in the sanctuary for three days.
Globally threatened White-rumped vultures and Red-headed vultures were sighted in all the camps, with a maximum count of 20 birds at Doddakulassi.
Apart from birds, direct sightings of tigers were recorded in four locations.
Addressing the concluding ceremony of the survey, Pramod G. Krishnan, Conservator of Forest (Wildlife), Palakkad, said that bird survey would be conducted in the WWLS every year as it provided valuable information for conservation.
P. Dhanesh Kumar, in-charge of the wildlife warden, and K.V. Uthaman, Deputy Conservator, Wayanad Social Forestry Division, supervised the survey. Ajith K. Raman, A. Imithiyas, K.R. Krishnadas, R. Rajan, assistant wildlife wardens, assisted the survey.