Seven species of seabirds were recorded during the recent pelagic bird survey in the waters off the Azhikkal coast here conducted under the Malabar Natural History Society (MNHS) in association with the Kerala Forests and Wildlife Department.
The MNHS in a press release here on Tuesday said that the pelagic bird survey conducted on October 4 as part of the Forest and Wildlife Department's Green Partner Programme recorded the seven species of seabirds which included the sighting of two Roseate terns. Noting that the sighting of the Roseate terns is significant, it said it is the third time that this species of tern has been recorded in the State.
The bird can be often confused with similar looking Common tern, the release added.
The survey team also saw a juvenile Masked Booby, a large seabird that fishes by plunging into the water. It could only sight a single Flesh-footed Shearwater, the release said adding that flocks of this species were a regular feature of the seas in the region in the previous years. The other seabirds sighted during the survey are Bridled terns, Arctic Skuas, Wilson's Storm-petrels and Swinhoe's Storm-petrels.
Prominent ornithologists Chris Bowden from the Royal Society for Protection of Birds, United Kingdom, Mike Prince from Bubo Listing of birds, Praveen J. and Dipu Karuthedathu were among those who participated in the bird survey. Seventeen bird enthusiasts from various parts of the country attended the survey.
The survey was co-ordinated by Jafer Palot and Sathyan Meppayur of the MNHS and K.E. Bijumon, Section Forest Officer, Social Forestry, here.
Monitoring of seabirds in the State and other parts of south India has been carried out since 2010, the release said adding that so far 20 species of seabirds have been recorded from various parts.
