To understand the diverse habitats of migratory birds and make comparison studies, the bird watchers’ team of Nature Society of Tirupur, that has been studying the arrival-departure patterns of such species in western region, travelled across the State where migratory birds flock in large numbers.
The assessment helped find the common factors that prompt certain bird species to visit areas such as Nanjarayan tank in Tirupur and the coastal lines of the State, though outwardly it looks as a divergent environment.
Patterns
Disclosing the patterns of migrations and common factors that make respective species to seek abodes in different parts of the State, K. Ravindran, secretary of the Society, told The Hindu that many of the species that flock the Nanjarayan irrigation tank area in Tirupur and its hinterland were also seen in coastal areas of the State, especially in Nagapattinam district.
The team found species like the Sandpipers, which come from Western Europe, the Northern Pintails, that migrates from Northern Europe and North America, and the Black-tailed Godwits, a bird species coming from Iceland area in Europe, among few others, which comes to western region of the State during winter season, in coastal areas too with some of them even noticed in smaller numbers around irrigation tanks in sanctuaries like Koonthankulam near Tirunelveli.
“Closer studies by us revealed that the presence of similar micro organisms - that birds like Sandpiper and Northern Pintail take as feed, shallow waters, and the salinity in water in the Nanjarayan tank caused by the indiscriminate industrial effluent discharge, a blessing in disguise here, are the common factors that make the birds to choose either this area of Tirupur or coastal waters,” Mr. Ravindran said.
