Bird biodiversity in Tamil Nadu under severe threat

By SV Krishna Chaitanya  |  Express News Service  |   Published: 09th March 2018 04:52 AM  |  

Last Updated: 09th March 2018 04:52 AM  |   A+A A-   |  

CHENNAI: Bird biodiversity in Tamil Nadu is under threat and 18 out of 39 Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) are unprotected, according to the latest report prepared by Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS).Though the State has improved its tally of bird areas from 34 to 39, habitat destruction, agriculture intensification, industrialisation and urbanisation are eating into IBAs endangering at least 40 bird species.

As per the report titled “Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas in India: Priority Sites for Conservation”, an updated edition released after 14 years of work, four bird species have been categorised as critically endangered, of which three belong to Vulture family.

White-rumped Vulture, Long-billed Vulture, Red-headed Vulture and Spoon-billed Sandpiper have been reported to be critically endangered. There have been no confirmed sightings of Spoon-billed Sandpiper in Tamil Nadu for 20 years. This apart, six species are endangered, eight vulnerable and 22 nearly threatened.

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Migratory bird sighted 'for first time in Tamil Nadu'

STAFF REPORTER

TIRUPUR, OCTOBER 19, 2017 20:11 IST

Common Stonechat comes from central Asia and Europe, and Western Marsh Harrier from western Eurasia and Africa.

Two migratory bird species, Eurasian Marsh Harrier (also called Western Marsh Harrier) and Common Stonechat, have been sighted by a group of bird watchers, reportedly for the first time, near the S. Periyapalayam irrigation tank in Tirupur, Tamil Nadu.

“Common Stonechat is sighted for the first time in Tamil Nadu if one goes by records compiled by ornithologists,” said K. Ravindran, a regular bird watcher at the S. Periyapalayam tank for a decade.

Mr. Ravindran, who is also the president of the Nature Society of Tirupur, said that Eurasian Marsh Harrier was seen elsewhere in Tamil Nadu. Common Stonechat comes from central Asia and Europe, and Western Marsh Harrier from western Eurasia and Africa.

The Nature Society of Tirupur attributes a few possible reasons for the sudden appearance of these two birds here.

“Either they may have lost their way to places they usually visit, or because of the disturbances happened to their earlier habitats,” said Mr. Ravindran.

Source  

Chennaiites on a drive to save bird habitats

It's that time of the year when city's bird lovers set out for long walks in the cool morning weather, carrying their binoculars and cameras.

Interestingly, these bird enthusiasts are also taking steps to spread awareness about conservation of bird habitats, inculcate interest among Chennaiites to identify different bird species in the city and also explain how we can avoid dwindling of bird species in Chennai. 

A bird enthusiast, Gayathree Krishna, claims that Chennai has a good range of habitats. "Guindy National Park and Theosophical Society are known for their forest habitats. Whereas, marshes are seen at Pallikaranai and seashore habitats are prominent at Muttukadu and Adyar Estuary," she says, "On a drive down the ECR, one will find rollers and bee eaters perching on wires."

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