A trial bird survey conducted in Thrissur 'Kole' wetlands on October 21 did come across rare species of migratory birds like Daurian starling and Peregrine falcon. The presence of rare winged visitors varieties is now considered a sign that profound changes have happened to the kole-ecosystem, mainly as a result of the floods that ravaged Kerala in August.
The survey, held prior to the annual Asian water-bird census (AWC) done every January, was jointly conducted by Kerala Agricultural University and Center for Climate Change Research with the help of Kole Birders' Collective. Prompted by the new sightings of the survey, the KAU is all set to launch a statewide ecological survey.
Rare visitors
It is the second time that Daurian starling, colloquially called 'Chenneelikkaali' is being spotted in Kerala's wetlands. The first identification happened in 2015, when a couple of starlings were found perching in the wetlands of Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram. Daurian starlings hail from the cold regions of eastern Mongolia, south-eastern Russia, North Korea and central China. A narrow wing-bar and dark-shaded mantle and crown distinguish Daurian starlings from the other members of the wider genus called Sturnus.
Thrissur's 'kole' wetlands, a collection of seasonally cultivated paddy fields identified and protected under Ramsar convention, welcomes a wide range of migratory birds every winter. According to Nameer P O, head of the department, College of Forestry, the appearance of Daurian starlings in the wetlands of Kerala is a pointer to the holistic transformation happening to the sub-continent's climatic condition.
Greater flamingos, a comparatively regular annual visitors of Kerala's wetlands, have also increased in number. While only three flamingos arrived last year, a full team of five greater flamingos, belonging to different age-groups have reached Kole wetlands this year.
The peregrine falcon, one of the fastest hunter birds with a stellar speed of 320 kmph, has also been identified in central Kerala's wetlands this season. Paddyfield warbler (Paadakkuruvi), Pallas's grasshopper and Great spotted eagle are some of the other rare bird species identified from Thrissur's wetlands this season.
The pre-AWC bird-survey was conducted across all the ten regions of wetlands in Thrissur, namely Thommana, Muriyad, Palakkal, Manakkodi, Pullu, Pullazhi, Adatt, Enammavu, Mullur Kayal, Marancherry, Uppungal east and Uppungal west.
KAU to analyse post-floods ecological change
Kerala Agricultural University, in association with the State Biodiversity Board, will undertake an exclusive ecological survey across the state to analyze the changes that happened to Kerala's environment and eco-system due to the floods that hit Kerala in August 2018.
“The first-of-its-kind project will start in November. We don't have a reference material to rely on as it was the first time such a huge natural catastrophe hit Kerala. The project will be carried out with the help of subject experts, volunteering civilian groups and the public. This is an ambitious project suggested by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan himself. I hope significant information about changes that happened to soil, water, vegetation, flora and fauna due to the floods will be unfurled in that survey. I think insects, flies and aquatic species were more affected by the floods than birds,” Nameer PO told Onmanorama.