“We saw a pair of peahens and five peafowls in our college recently,” says Kumaresan Chandrabose, a student of BSc., Microbiology, The American College. “This is the first time, the national bird has inhabited in our campus.” “The peafowls are healthy and we hope the population will increase. They must have come from the neighbouring Medical College or the Rajaji Park,” says M. Rajesh, Professor of Zoology. The college is home to over 20 species of small and medium sized birds, thousands of varieties of plant and trees and a number of butterflies, insects and reptiles.
Amidst the concrete jungle the city has become, college campuses with a rich variety of trees and plants are the green oases that nurture birdlife and biodiversity. Members of the Madurai Nature Forum roped in volunteers, students and professors from half-a-dozen city colleges to do a rough count of birds during the Great Backyard Bird Count, last February. “The month-long initiative created an opportunity for academicians to learn and appreciate the biodiversity present in our immediate surroundings,” says A.S. Pricilla, the head of Zoology Department, Lady Doak College, where over 18 species of birds were recorded. “We have made bird watching regular now and our students maintain a log book on the count.”
“The presence of birds indicates that the environment is healthy. Tree cover is a prerequisite for attracting winged visitors. At places like LDC and American College, which are located in the very heart of the city, we were amazed to find so many birds,” says Praveen Kumar, a student who took part in the count. “For instance, if Spotted Owlets are found in a place, it implies the presence of old trees. The nocturnal raptor bird nests only in natural cavern found in the tree trunks.” The members were surprised to see a good number of Barn owls at Lady Doak College and the Forest Wagtail at The American College. “Instead of just showing the petrified specimens of animals and birds in life science classes, students enjoyed seeing real birds,” says S. Govindan, Professor of Zoology, Yadava Men’s College, where Pond Heron were sighted in huge numbers. “As the campus is surrounded by irrigation tanks, we get many water birds.” “Paradise Flycatcher was another highlight of the Yadava College campus, as it is a migratory bird that visits Madurai only for a couple of months,” says Kumaresan.
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A dozen varieties of birds were recorded in Meenakshi College, Fatima Colleg and Mannar Thirumalai Naicker College in Pasumalai. Flocks of Rosy Starling, a grain-feeding bird, called as ‘SolaKuruvi’ in Tamil was found at Mannar College much to the amusement of birders. “No other college in the city has these birds in the campus. Since Pasumalai is flanked by the Tiruparankundram tank and paddy fields on either side, it is a favourable pocket for the Rosy Starling,” says Kumaresan. The Nature Forum members plan to carry forward the project to more colleges in the entire district.