Second bird census conducted at Ranganathittu

Ranganathittu houses a large number of bird species as well as endangered species such as the Mugger crocodile.

The second bird census of the season at Ranganathittu was conducted on Sunday to gather data of the bird species harboured in the bird sanctuary.

This is part of a bid to pitch for International Wetland Site status later in the year through the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF & CC) and usher in the best international conservation practices at the sanctuary. Around 100 volunteers from Mysuru, Bengaluru and other parts of the State took part in the exercise, which commenced at 5.30 a.m. and concluded at 10.30 a.m. This was followed by a workshop by ecologist T.K. Roy.

The volunteers identified nearly 120 species of birds, including the spot-billed pelican, painted stork, egret, stone plover, Ibis, and Baya Weaver.

Deputy Conservator of Forests V. Yedukondalu said the first bird census was held in March and the plan is to conduct a census in each season as the sanctuary harbours different species during different times. “Some birds arrive here late summer while there are many species that roost here only during winter. Hence, we plan to conduct census four times every year to create a robust database of the birds that seek sanctuary at Ranganathittu,” he said.

The exercise also takes into account the surrounding vegetation on which the birds depend, and this is expected to result in more scientific landscape management.

The first bid for international wetland site for Ranganathittu is expected to take a year for formality completion, and the proposal will be submitted for consideration during the international meet of the countries that are signatories to the Ramsar Convention.

The Ramsar Convention is an inter-governmental treaty for the conservation and management of wetlands. More that 90% of the member states of the United Nations, including India, are signatories. The convention was adopted in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971. There are 26 Ramsar sites in India, but none in Karnataka.

Mr. Yedukondalu said there was every possibility of Ranganathittu qualifying as an International Wetland Site as it fulfils many of the criteria for it. “There are nine criteria. Meeting just one is sufficient to qualify as an International Wetland Site; Ranganathittu meets two or three,” he said.

One of the criteria is that the wetland should support at least 1% of the population of any endangered bird species. Ranganathittu supports more than 3% of the world population of spot-billed pelicans and painted storks.

Birds apart, Ranganathittu sanctuary also supports other endangered species like the Mugger crocodile, river otters, and Mahseer fish, which is unique to the Cauvery river and is on the verge of extinction.