A recent bird survey organised by the Forest Department and the Hume Centre for Ecology and Wildlife Biology in the South Wayanad Forest Division has recorded 143 species.
The comprehensive survey was organised as part of the Kerala Bird Atlas project. As many as 40 birdwatchers from various parts of Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu took part in the second leg of the dry-season survey that lasted around 60 days.
Six species of raptors, belonging to Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, were discovered on the mountain ranges of the region.
Seven species of pigeons, eight species of woodpeckers, four species of drongos, six species of bulbuls, and nine species of babblers were recorded during the survey.
Banasura Chilappan (Montecincla jerdoni), one of the most endangered forest birds of the country, was spotted in the Shola forests above an altitude of 1,800 m. Global distribution of the species is restricted to three mountain ranges of Wayanad, that too an area of less than 50 sq km.
Many endemic species
Besides Banasura Chilappan, endemic birds such as Grey-headed bulbul, Malabar Grey hornbill, Rufous babbler, Nilgiri wood-pigeon, White-bellied tree-pie, Flame-throated bulbul, White-bellied blue flycatcher, Wayanad laughing thrush, Crimson-backed sunbird, and Malabar barbets are also recorded.
Some species of birds sighted during the 60-day survey, organised by the State Forest Department and Hume Centre for Ecology and Wildlife Biology, in south Wayanad forest division. Photos of the Bright headed cisticola; Banasura Chilappan; Greater flameback woodpecker; and Grey headed flycatcher.
Fourteen species of migratory birds — seven species of warblers belonging to Phylloscopus and Acrocephalus genus and seven species of migratory flycatchers, including Rusty-tailed flycatcher — were observed during the survey.
The survey was coordinated by R.L. Rathish and S. Anusreedha of the Hume centre.
South Wayanad divisional forest officer Abdul Azeez supervised the programme. Deepak Shankar and K.R Krishanadas, range forest officers, and deputy range officer K. Hashif coordinated the field-level activities.
“Considering the small habitat of Banasura Chilappan, the Camel’s Hump Mountain ranges should be elevated to the status of a national park to protect the remaining habitat of the endangered species, one of the rarest birds in the country,” C.K. Vishnudas, coordinator, District Bird Atlas Project, told The Hindu .
Forest fire threat
“Every year, forest fires, mostly man-made, devastate a large tract of grassland on the mountain ranges.
Close to 100 hectares of grassland was ravaged in a recent forest fire in the area this year. Such incidence highlight the need for conservation on a war footing to protect the fragile mountain region,” Mr. Vishnudas said.
