Winter migratory birds visit Nilgiris in large numbers, buntings recorded for first time

Winter migrant birds to the Nilgiris person been arriving successful ample numbers implicit the past fewer weeks, bringing excitement to bird-watchers successful the district, who person documented a fewer first-time visitors.

Chandrasekar Das, an ecologist from Keystone Foundation and avid bird-watcher said helium had recorded 2 bunting taxon for the archetypal clip this year.

“The Grey-necked Bunting was observed successful Kotagiri, portion the Black-headed Bunting was sighted successful Masinagudi. These discoveries people important additions to the district’s avifaunal list. In summation to these uncommon first-time sightings, a fig of regular wintertime migrants person besides appeared successful the hills,” helium said.

Mr. Das said these taxon see the Eurasian Wryneck, Kashmir Flycatcher, Pin-tailed Snipe, Whiskered Tern, Indian Blue Robin, and Blue Rock Thrush, on with respective different seasonal visitors.

Murali Moorthy, different bird-watcher successful the Nilgiris said galore birds of prey, including the Greater spotted eagle and the Steppe Eagle person been documented successful greater numbers this twelvemonth erstwhile compared to erstwhile years. “All the mode from the deeper reaches of Russia, the Steppe Eagle has been recorded to transportation adjacent tiny mammals and driblet them from a large tallness and aboriginal devour the meat. It’s genuinely breathtaking to spot specified an astonishing raptor marque its mode to the Nilgiris to debar the Russian winter,” said Mr. Murali.

The greater numbers could beryllium indicative of harsher winters successful the birds’ location scope oregon amended availability of nutrient here. He has besides recorded Northern pintails and booted warblers successful the Nilgiris this winter.