Ornithologists Make Kottayam Proud

Bird lovers here have made a significant achievement by spotting rare species during a pelagic bird survey off the Alappuzha coast.

As many as 17 species of pelagic birds were spotted in the survey organised by the Kottayam Nature Society (KNS) in association with the Kerala Forest Department the other day.

The interesting findings of the expedition, which was started off from Valiyazheekkal beach in Alappuzha, are Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) and Persian Shearwater (Puffinus persicus).

While the spotting of Red-necked Phalarope was recorded from Neendakara in Kollam for the first time in the Kerala coast this month, Persian Shearwater is believed to be recorded from Alappuzha for the first time. According to Jinesh P S, resident doctor in Kottayam Medical College and a member of the  team, the cruise is expected to give a significant addition to the bird records of the state if the results will be endorsed by the authorities concerned. “There were some unidentified birds, which are believed to be spotted for the first time along the Kerala coast.

“We have sent the photographs to the experts in the nation and abroad for identification and are waiting for the confirmation,” he said.

He said the red-necked phalarope is a small wader, which was a rare sight during the survey.

“The phalarope breeds are found in the Arctic regions of North America and Eurasia. It is a migratory bird. The habitats of the Red-necked Phalarope include oceans, bays, lakes, ponds and tundra. During migration, this bird is primarily found on open sea and infrequently on inland lakes, reservoirs, sewage ponds, and coastal marshes,” he said.

The other major birds, which were spotted in the survey are Flesh-footed Shearwater, Persian Shearwater, Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Shearwater, Swinhoe’s Stormpetrel, Stormpetrel, Heuglini group Gulls, Gull-billed Tern and Lesser Crested Tern.