Though slightly late, the migratory bird season has started at Punchakari-Vellayani wetlands with the arrival of Barn Swallows from various parts of Haridwar, Rishikesh and other parts of northern Himalayan foothills.
Hundreds of Barn Swallows were seen perching on the electric line near the canal road and Punchakari pump house.
Warblers and Waders, a city-based bird and nature lovers forum, conducted a one-day migratory bird-watching camp at Punchakari-Vellayani wetlands on Saturday.
The aim of the camp was to take count the migratory birds arriving at Punchakari-Vellayani wetlands on the beginning of migratory season. The camp was led by C Susanth, K A Kishore and Abhiram Chandran (senior members) and bird-watchers of the group. Members, bird-watchers and nature enthusiasts of the city participated in the migratory bird-watching camp.The prominent migrant water birds seen at Punchakari-Vellayani wetlands were Wood Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Common Snipe, Little Ringed Plover, Black-winged Stilt, Greenshank and Common Sandpiper.
Pied Cuckoo, a local migrant bird, was also seen at Punchakari during the study. Hundreds of Rosy Starlings from eastern Europe were seen feeding near the bushes and weedy patches near the canal road. The Brown Shrike, a prominent migrant bird from Mongolia and Siberia, was also spotted in the bushes near the canal road.
The sighting of Common Stonechat is significant. Stonechat is a migratory bird usually seen in dry habitats, barren lands, shrub jungles and open dry lands. This migratory bird has been observed at Punchakari-Vellayani Wetlands for the past four years, but this year the bird was sighted earlier.
Apart from the visitors from the north and abroad, local migrant birds were also active at Punchakari-Vellayani Wetlands.
Local migrant water birds, including Indian Coot, Cotton Teal, Lesser Whistling Duck, White Ibis, Asian Openbill, Painted Snipe and Watercock, were also seen actively feeding on the water bodies near the canal road.
The presence of Oriental Darter, red data bird was observed to be diminishing this year.