The Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department recently conducted an ornithological survey in the Malabar region and is now planning to publish the findings.
The department had conducted the first such survey in Malabar region, consisting of six districts north of Palakkad in the 2010-2011. A similar survey was conducted in Travancore-Cochin area titled ‘Along the trail of Salim Ali’ in 2009 and the findings were published as a book, ‘Along the trail of Salim Ali-Travancore-Cochin Ornithological Survey 2009,’ by the Forest Department in 2011.
“These two studies together will provide a complete ornithological profile of Kerala. The data compiled in these studies serve as the benchmark of ornithological information for future studies and conservation,” C. Sasikumar, principal investigator of these studies, says.
“The two research projects, sponsored by the Forests Department, are important landmarks in the ornithological history of the State. These surveys brought out information on the abundance and diversity of Kerala’s birds,” a senior forest official said.
The book on Malabar’s birds will be published in a month. A total of 341 species of birds were recorded during the survey, which is 73.27 percent of the total bird species recorded in Kerala. Out of this, 240 species (69.4 per cent) were residents and 94 species (27.2 per cent) were migrants, and three were breeding visitors.
Out of the 16 species endemic to the Western Ghats, 15 were recorded during the survey. Twenty-two species recorded in Malabar region are categorised ‘globally threatened’ by IUCN. This amounts to 6.3 per cent of the total species identified in Malabar and 5 per cent of the total birds reported from Kerala, C.K. Vishnudas, a survey team member, said.
