With the advent of autumn and receding rains, it’s a clear sign for birdwatchers to set out to behold the world’s most petite and charming creatures. Kerala, with its dense forest cover, is home to 593 species of birds.
Starting from this month up to March, migratory birds from the Himalayas to Canada will make their way to the Western Ghats. Migratory birds constitute 40% of the bird population in the country.
However, not all birds will remain here for the entire stretch. ‘Passage migrants’, like flycatchers, make their way from the Himalayas to Sri Lanka, while they are here in Kerala for just a couple of days. Different species of the flycatcher come on different days. However, they are widely spotted in December at Thattekad. They may also be spotted while making a return in February.
Dr R Sugathan, ornithologist at the Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, has a piece of advice for first-time birdwatchers: “It is important to take a notepad along to jot down features of the bird, including its size, colour, shape of the bill, tail and feet,” he says. “One should also look out for a spot or mark on the plumage.” He adds that it is easy to spot birds at about 6 am when birds are about to leave the roost and become vocal.
The Kerala Bird Race
The Kerala Bird Race, to be held on November 18, has been organised since 2007 to honour renowned ornithologist Salim Ali whose birthday falls on November 12. At this event, people are divided into teams and sent to different places to identify birds from dawn to dusk. The team that identifies the maximum number of birds is declared the winner. You can contact Vishnu Priyan to register for the event: cochinnhs@yahoo.com; Phone: 9446437410
Places to visit
A wide variety of migratory birds, like the ground thrush, come to the Thattekad bird sanctuary owing to its diverse habitat which includes deciduous, moist deciduous, evergreen forests and water bodies.
Various species of the wagtail can be spotted in the coming months. The forest wagtail can be seen in wetlands and thickly wooded areas of Kalady; while the grey-headed wagtails from Siberia frequent the marshlands at Thattekad, the coastal belt of Thiruvananthapuram and the Vembanad Lake.
The broad billed roller can be spotted in the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary; white ibises in Wayanad; peregrine falcon in Kollam and Alappuzha; and the common kestrel in the Eravikulam National Park in Idukki. The curlew sandpiper and osprey are seen at the Kole wetlands of Thrissur.
Those visiting the backwaters of Kumarakoam can look out for the siberian crane, darter, steppe eagle and marsh harrier.
P O Nameer, professor, Centre for Wildlife Studies, Kerala Agriculture University, insists that there isn’t a specified time for bird watching. “They can be seen through the year,” he says. “At any given location in Kerala, 10-15 species of birds can be seen. It is not necessary to go to any sanctuary in particular.” For example, the little grebe, grey herons, and large egrets can be seen at the Kalathara wetlands near Palluruthy, Kochi. Different species of waders can be seen in the coastal belts of Thiruvananthapuram. Seagulls can be spotted near the Cherai beach.