The annual Pongal Bird Counting process, an initiative of Tamil Birds Network was flagged off this year on 15th January. Initiated in the year 2015, this is the second consecutive year the event has commenced. The annual census organised by the Environmental conservation group is a four-day process, which runs between 15-18th of January.
The mid of January or the Pongal is regarded as the apt time to conduct this census as migrations happen during this period, say environmentalists.
Through this initiative by the Tamil Birds Network, state-wise monitoring of birds are conducted and recorded in their e-bird platform. The bird-watchers involved in this census, make a note of their sightings and upload it in the e-bird platform. When compared to Tamil Nadu, the listing is claimed to be excellent is the state of Kerala, as the bird watchers are spread across the state.
Here's what Mohammad Saleem, President of Environmental Conservation Group shared with us, "On the first day, we had organised an orientation session for the bird-watchers. Close to 12 birders took part in the session that was hosted at Singanallur lake. Tips and briefing was provided to those watchers on the bird counting process.
Barring a few minute differences, many of the birds look similar. Hence, the watchers have to be well-experienced and knowledgeable to segregate and identify their species accordingly. After the orientation session, all those 12 members formed small groups and are in the process of counting at locations like Ukkadam Periyakulam, Valankulam lake, Sulur and Singanallur Lake.
Yesterday, being the first day, we spotted close to 53 birds in a less than three hours of time. Garganey duck, spot-billed pelican, whiskered tern, river tern, glossy ibis were few of the birds our team spotted.
When questioned on the impact of climatic changes on bird sightings Saleem shared, that "The exact impact of climatic changes on bird migration is a deeper subject and requires ample time to derive at a conclusion. But yes, drastic change in climatic patterns do impact the migratory birds.
Last year same time, the lakes had fair amount of water but this year is adversely reversed. Well before the onset of the summer, lakes are seen with scanty water resources, which isn't a good sign at all for migratory birds. This situation prompts the birds to migrate to places with better water resources. Anyhow, the sightings haven't affected this year, it's almost the same like last year. Out of the census, 50 plus varieties we spot here in Coimbatore, 30 of them are resident bird species, while 15-20 are different bird varieties or migratory species'.
Just by spending 15 minutes, interested watchers can register them at the e-bird portal and enrol for the counting process. It's highly motivating that compared to last year the bird-watchers enrolled for the census process is on a steady rise. Not only rare species of birds, common birds like crows and sparrows also mean a lot to the census record' saleem said.
'More people should volunteer for such ventures as humans should be responsible for saving a species but not for it's extinction. Let's be a part of the nature and eco-system to communicate and understand the language of birds' urged Saleem.