Rare bird species sighted in wetlands
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Many uncommon, unusual and near-threatened water bird species have been sighted in the wetlands in the State in the course of the Asian Waterbird Census – 2021. The rely of migratory birds is sweet in all mudflats, say the wildlife officers.
There are 27 wetlands in Andhra Pradesh, and uncommon species of birds, which haven’t been seen for the previous few years had been seen in Nelapattu, Kolleru and Coringa sanctuaries in the course of the census carried out in January this yr, stated Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF-Wildlife) Rahul Pandey.
About 80 groups, together with forest authorities, ornithologists, NGOs and the bird watchers carried out the Asian Waterbird Census in the wetlands, creeks, sanctuaries, mudflats, marshy areas and the bird habitats in the State.
“I visited Kolleru, Nelapattu, Uppalapadu, Coringa and other bird sanctuaries. In Nelapattu, spoon billed storks, which are not sighted for more than two decades, were seen nesting with their younger ones this year,” stated the CCF.
In Kolleru lake, altogether about 3 lakh birds, particularly pelicans, open billed storks, painted storks and different species had been discovered. Some uncommon species had been additionally seen. At Uppalapadu in Guntur district, greater than 25,000 birds had been counted in the census, Mr. Pandey stated.
Eluru Divisional Forest Officer (DFO-Wildlife) C. Selvam stated as many as 92 bird species had been discovered in Kolleru, the most important freshwater lake in the nation. In Coringa, 34,207 birds of 102 species had been counted, of which 15 had been globally near-threatened bird species, he stated.
“We found peregrine falcon, oyster catcher and other uncommon waterbirds in Coringa sanctuary, and rare species such as great knot and Indian skimmer are also found in good numbers,” Mr. Selvam stated.
Compared to the earlier census, inhabitants of migratory birds was good in Krishna, Kolleru, Coringa and different sanctuaries. Besides, kingfishers, egrets, storks, geese, cormorants and different waterbirds had been counted in massive numbers, the DFO stated.
Postal covers
The CCF stated that posters and particular postal covers can be launched collectively by the Forest Department and the India Post on protected wetlands – Pulikat, Krishna, Kolleru, Coringa and Nelapattu – on the event of World Wetland Day on Tuesday.
A webinar can be organised on conservation of wetlands, he added.