Coimbatore: Dip in migratory bird varieties raises concern

COIMBATORE: Birdwatchers in the district are concerned about the dip in the varieties of migratory birds visiting the local waterbodies.
As per the Coimbatore Nature Society, only 27 varieties of migratory birds were spotted across the 29 waterbodies in the district during the Asian Waterbird Census, compared to 31 last year, 39 in 2020 and 35 in 2019.

The census was carried out by a 25-member team led by P R Selvaraj, president, Coimbatore Nature Society, from January 9 to 15.
However, at 1,580, there was an increase in the number of migratory birds sighted this year, compared to 978 in 2021 and 1,380 in 2020, according to the report prepared by A Pavendhan, a member of Coimbatore Nature Society.
When it comes to resident birds, 106 varieties were sighted this year, against 103 last year and 124 in 2020. In total, 5,858 resident birds were sighted in the district this year, down from 6,091 in 2021.
Those involved in the census cited availability of water and its quality, and food and shelter for the drop in the varieties of migratory birds visiting the wetlands in the district.
“While the resident birds move between wetlands in the district depending on the food availability and other factors to manage a crisis, the incoming migrant birds skip the wetlands in the district in search of better ones elsewhere,” they said in a report.
The quality of wetlands on the upper Noyyal-fed areas are comparatively better than the ones in lower areas, where pollutants enter the waterbodies. “Moreover, natural wetland shores are damaged by the construction work as part of the smart city projects. It could also be a reason for decline in migrant and resident waders (shore birds) population,” they said.