Students trained in identifying waterbirds

November 12, 2019 08:39 pm | Updated 08:39 pm IST - TIRUNELVELI

A group of students of Florence Swainson Higher Secondary School for the Deaf, who are going to be a part of waterbird census to be conducted after the end of north-east monsoon this year, were trained in identifying waterbirds on Tuesday by volunteers of ATREE that anchors the census for the past nine years.

The rich Tamirabharani irrigation system is well connected with several wetlands and has transformed the semi-arid region of Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts into a rice bowl and banana basket of southern Tamil Nadu. These wetlands, all getting water from the river, support a large number of waterbirds and diverse aquatic fauna and flora.

“While some popular bird spots such as the Koonthankulam Birds Sanctuary are well known, the whole landscape can be considered an ideal habitat for diverse waterbirds. The river and the wetlands it supports are threatened by diversion, pollution, mismanagement and erratic rainfall. Birds, wetlands and people are affected by such changes but monitoring them over 4,000 sq.km and 2,000 tanks has been a big challenge. Despite these hurdles, the ATREE started the waterbird census, christened Tamirabharani Waterbird Count, for documenting the bird species sighted in this region every year after the monsoon and come out with suggestions on conservation,” says Mathivanan, coordinator, ATREE.

The Tamirabharani Waterbird Count, a citizen-led bird count by ATREE’s Agasthyamalai Community Conservation Centre was initiated in 2011. Volunteer participants like businessmen, farmers, teachers, students, government and private employees, priests, doctors and engineers participate in this exercise every year.

“We have had over 1,500 volunteers participate in the monitoring over the past 10 years and some of them have come together to form nature groups like Pearl City Nature Society and Nellai Nature Club,” says Mr. Mathivanan.

ATREE, with the financial support from Brakes India and Sundaram Finance, is organising Tamirabharani Waterbird Carnival to conserve, protect and restore the river and its associated wetlands for human well-being. It is organising a range of events like competitions, workshops, seminars and exhibition over the past four months to engage with diverse stakeholders – from experts to the laymen.

First of its events titled ‘Birdman’s Walk’ was conducted for students of Florence Swainson Higher Secondary School for the Deaf, Palayamkottai. After screening a powerpoint presentation on identifying waterbirds with their names and the mode of waterbird census, the selected students were taken to Veinthankulam, which is waiting for bountiful showers during this monsoon.

“The students watched birds through binocular and collected field notes on Tuesday that coincided with birdman Salim Ali’s birthday,” said Mr. Mathivanan adding that the students sighted black winged stilt, red wattled lapwing, cattle egret, common sandpiper and others near the puddle inside the tank.

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