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The 16th variation of Tamirabharani Waterbird Count successful Tirunelveli, Tenkasi and Thoothukudi territory volition beryllium conducted successful astir 60 waterbodies from January 23 to 25 to ascertain the fig of birds camping successful the ponds and tanks successful these 3 districts, home and migratory vertebrate species, the favourable conditions prevailing successful these tanks to big the birds, the challenges the winged visitors look during their little enactment present etc.
Moreover, the survey volition besides bring to airy the dire threats these waterbodies look from the nine and their contiguous condition.
Several waterbirds, including the Black-headed Ibis, Asian Openbill Stork, Cormorant, Grey Heron and Spot-billed Pelican, are presently nesting astatine Vagaikulam successful Tenkasi territory and Gangaikondan Tank successful Tirunelveli district. Meanwhile, astatine Vellur Lake successful Thoothukudi district, thousands of Eurasian wigeons person arrived from Northern Europe. This is owed to the satisfactory rainfall during the northeast monsoon these 3 districts recorded betwixt past week of October and mid-December.
“Why bash these birds take the waterbodies successful our region? How bash the birds enrich the waterbodies? What relation bash these migratory birds play successful maintaining the balanced ecosystem of a waterbody and its surroundings? What challenges bash they look successful contiguous condition? To research answers for these questions, quality enthusiasts and citizens are invited to instrumentality portion successful the 16th Tamirabharani Waterbird Count (TWC) from January 23 to 25,” says M. Mathivanan, Coordinator, TWC.
The three-day TWC is being jointly organised by the Agasthyamalai Community Conservation Centre, Manimuthar, District Science Centre, Tirunelveli, Nellai Nature Club, Tirunelveli, Pearlcity Nature Society, Thoothukudi and the Tamil Nadu Science Forum, Tenkasi.
The perennial stream of the Tamirabharani and its tributaries that originate successful the Pothigai Hills of the Western Ghats nurture the districts of Tirunelveli, Tenkasi and Thoothukudi to marque this portion the ‘Rice Bowl of Southern Tamil Nadu’. This portion supports affluent biodiversity crossed forests, wetlands and agrarian landscapes. The irrigation tanks of these districts are captious habitats for waterbirds and location to astir 100 species, of which much than 30 taxon are migratory, arriving from assorted parts of the world.
When the waterbird number was conducted past year, the survey brought to airy the menace the birds look from fishnets discarded rampantly successful the waterbodies by the inland fishermen and others, which entangle the birds’ legs oregon beaks portion they hunt for food successful the waterbodies. This deplorable signifier often kills the birds. Even though the survey came retired with the proposition of either restricting oregon regulating sportfishing successful the tanks and the ponds, the authoritative machinery is not successful a temper to ponder implicit the prescriptions to conserve the h2o bodies and the birds camping there.
With the nonsubjective of promoting conservation of waterbirds and their habitats, the Tamirabharani Waterbird Count has been conducted annually since 2011 by the Agasthyamalai Community Conservation Centre, with progressive information from section voluntary organisations and the wide public.
The 16th Tamirabharani Waterbird Count volition commence connected January 23 with the grooming sessions to hole the volunteers for the survey successful District Science Centre, Tirunelveli astatine 2.30 p.m., Pope’s College, Sawyerpuram successful Thoothukudi territory astatine 2.30 p.m. and J.P. Arts and Science College, Aayikudi, Tenkasi astatine 11 a.m.
Those who privation to enactment successful the waterbird count, should registry done https://forms.gle/2x4au4AubrJGZN8R7on oregon earlier January 22, 5 p.m. The vertebrate census volition commencement from the aboriginal hours of January 24 successful astir 60 irrigation tanks successful Tirunelveli, Tenkasi and Thoothukudi districts.
Aspirants successful the property of 18 and supra whitethorn interaction Adithya – 8838052750 (for Tirunelveli, Sandhanamari – 9342957004 for Thoothukudi and Thalavaipandi – 8667846069 for Tenkasi districts to get much accusation astir the upcoming waterbird count, Mr. Mathivanan said.
Details of erstwhile years’ number are fixed below
Year
No. of irrigation tanks covered
Bird abundance
No. of species
2011
42
32375
68
2012
55
29576
64
2013
63
60966
70
2014
55
67194
72
2015
42
34189
63
2016
42
22676
62
2017
47
8256
57
2018
46
34189
69
2019
44
39231
75
2020
51
24411
74
2021
62
26868
73
2022
65
28831
69
2023
70
31698
73
2024
57
24207
66
2025
68
23753
71
