As the southwest monsoon advanced in Wayanad in vigour in June, flocks of waterbirds such as herons, egrets, and ibises started to congregate at the Panamaram heronry for breeding.
The birds will leave the largest breeding station of waterbirds in northern Kerala along with chicks by the end of October. But this time, the heronry will not live up to its reputation as the recent deluge not only destroyed a major part of the habitat and eggs and nests but also killed the majority of fledglings.
The Hume Centre for Ecology and Wildlife Biology, a conservation research organisation in the district, found that nearly 70% of the 750 nests had been destroyed in the floods.
“About 750 active nests were recorded in a study on June 23. However, a post-flood count on September 5 recorded only 250 active nests, the majority of them larger birds such as ibises. The post-flood scenario also shows large-scale erosion of stream banks of the tiny island where the birds breed,” C.K. Vishnudas, an ornithologist, said.
“Little Cormorant, Large Cormorant, Cattle Egret, Night Heron, Black Headed Ibis, and Purple Heron are the major species breeding here. Most of the fledglings perished in the floods as they were unable to fly away,” Mr.Vishnudas said .
He said the island, a sandbank on the Panamaram river, was inundated in the flood and the birds moved to a nearby place for shelter for a few days. They came back when the water receded and some of them started breeding. But this will be only 20-30% of the population.
“This is perhaps one of the major biological setbacks that happened in the district. This will have significant impact on the local bird population. Black Headed Ibis is a globally threatened species. Natural calamities affecting wildlife populations are not well studied. Here, we got an opportunity to measure the impact of the calamity on the bird species,” he added.
Mr. Vishnudas said immediate action was needed to protect the stream banks from further erosion.
