Tamil Nadu records 397 wetland bird species, 401 terrestrial bird species in synchronised survey
A total of 397 bird species were recorded in the wetland bird survey, while 401 species were identified in the terrestrial bird survey this year, according to the synchronised bird survey report released by Forests Minister R.S. Rajakannappan during the inaugural of International Biodiversity Day events on Thursday.
The wetland survey revealed that 397 species are directly or indirectly associated with wetlands. Notably, 136 long-distance migratory species were observed, making up 34% of the total species recorded.
Key bird species observed in wetlands include the Greylag Goose, Greater Flamingo, Eurasian Curlew, Pied Avocet, and Lesser Crested Tern. Surveys were conducted across 934 wetland sites, with all forest divisions instructed to cover approximately 20 locations per district. In terms of species richness, the districts of Coimbatore, Erode, and Dindigul recorded more than 200 species each.
1,093 locations covered
The terrestrial survey covered 1,093 locations across urban, rural, and protected areas, again aiming for around 20 spots per forest division. The survey identified 401 bird species associated with terrestrial habitats, with 2,32,519 individual birds directly counted.
Of the birds identified, 41% are long-distance migrants, and 6% are either partial migrants or local migrants. Noteworthy species recorded include the Ashambu Laughingthrush, Indian Nightjar, Black and Orange Flycatcher, Lesser Fish-Eagle, Nilgiri Pipit, Brown Fish-Owl, and the Nilgiri Wood-Pigeon.
Speaking about the importance of biodiversity conservation, Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary to the Departments of Environment, Climate Change, and Forests, stressed that it must be addressed in conjunction with climate change, human impact, and habitat preservation. She noted that in the past four years, over two lakh hectares of forest areas have now been brought under legal protection. 7,000 hectares of new forest areas have been created, which contributes significantly to the protection of both habitats and species, she said.
During the event, the Minister also distributed awards to forest officials and divisions, along with non-governmental organisations, for their significant contributions. Headmasters of tribal schools managed by the Forest Department were honoured for achieving the highest pass percentages.
The event was attended by senior forest officials including Srinivas R. Reddy (PCCF & Head of Forest Force), Mita Banerjee (PCCF, Research & Education), Rakesh Kumar Dogra (PCCF & Chief Wildlife Warden), Debasis Jana (PCCF, Administration), and I. Anwardeen (PCCF & Chief Project Director).
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