The continuing Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) has revealed that a few of the main threats confronted by wetlands and the birds in and round them are habitat destruction, poaching, development actions and landfills close to water sources.
The staff of Wildlife Conservation By Analysis and Training and Vizag Birdwatchers Society led by Vivek Rathod, A Yagnapathy, Vikram Penmetsa and Janardhan Uppada are masking 22 wetlands in Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam within the AWC this 12 months.
![The birdwatchers team at Boni Lake in Visakhapatnam during the Asian Waterbird Census. The birdwatchers team at Boni Lake in Visakhapatnam during the Asian Waterbird Census.](https://th-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/9ohl57/article67799483.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/20240114_083225%20%281%29.jpg)
The birdwatchers staff at Boni Lake in Visakhapatnam throughout the Asian Waterbird Census.
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Particular Association
Preliminary observations by the staff have reported a fall within the variety of birds on the wetlands of Visakhapatnam. In accordance with Vivek Rathod, the migratory hen season began late this time. “They usually start arriving by November; however, this time it was in December that the birds started coming,” says Vivek, including that the numbers are down by 50% this season.
Three years in the past, WWF-India did a research of the standing of wetlands within the State to assist the Andhra Pradesh Forest Division. Throughout the survey at Meghadrigedda Reservoir in Visakhapatnam, the WWF staff famous the presence of hen species similar to river tern, little grebe, northern pintail, northern shoveler, pheasant-tailed jacana, purple heron, red-crested pochard, rose-ringed parakeet, tufted pochard, yellow wagtail, spot billed duck, amongst others.
![Red crested pochard Red crested pochard](https://th-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/6ebnya/article67799475.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/14mp_red_crested_pochards_1.jpg)
Purple crested pochard
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MAIL PIC
From the previous one 12 months, the variety of birds sighted have gone down considerably. This 12 months, the birders recorded 66 species (with 555 people) from Meghadrigedda however many of the geese like crimson crested pochard haven’t been noticed but. “The red crested pochard used to visit in flocks of hundreds in Meghadrigedda. Last Sunday when I visited the place, I could not spot any. During our visit, we recorded the presence of just two migratory bird species – common pochard and Eurasian wigeon – in big groups,” says Janardhan Uppada and provides: “We have so far covered 30% of the reservoir during this AWC; in that area the presence of birds have gone down.”
In accordance with him, one of many doubtless causes for the drop in quantity could possibly be the floating solar energy plant arrange by the Higher Visakhapatnam Municipal Company a 12 months in the past. “This could have disturbed the birds,” he provides. The birding staff can be visiting the place once more.
Speedy urbanisation and poaching actions have added to the issue in Podugupalem Lake, one of many main birding hotspots of the area. Final 12 months throughout AWC, as many as 83 species (with 783 people) have been recorded from the lake. This 12 months, the numbers have fallen to 53 with 409 people. “The area was once a winter migratory hotspot and home to notable species such as pied harrier, great crested grebe, tufted duck, lesser whistling duck, Northern pintail, fulvous whistling duck, pallid harrier and black redstart. Over the past two years, the habitat has been affected due to hill destruction at one end of the lake,” says Vivek Rathod, who has been conducting periodical bird-watching journeys on the spot over the previous couple of years.
Janardhan provides that poaching actions have develop into rampant right here within the current previous. “I was hoping to record a family of Indian rock eagle owl, a species that used to be commonly spotted here. But I could not spot it this time; it must have got displaced because of habitat destruction. Even the rosy starling that used to come in large numbers was missing this season,” he says.
First file
The not often noticed shorebird, the pied avocet, with its conspicuous upcurved lengthy invoice, confirmed up for the primary time in recent times and shocked the birders at Tagarapuvalasa pond in January this 12 months. “It was in a flock of eight or 10,” says Vivek, who was pleasantly shocked to search out the putting black and white wader at this water physique for the primary time. “It might have made a stopover during this migratory route,” he added.
Nonetheless, the numbers of generally noticed winter species just like the greater-painted snipes, have gone down. “Snipes used to come in hundreds here. This time, the numbers were abysmal. Snipes are shy birds and can get affected by the slightest of disturbances,” says Janardhan. Vivek factors out that current renovation actions just like the constructing of strolling tracks have closely disturbed the habitat of the birds.
Final season, a uncommon prevalence of breeding of nice crested grebe was recorded at Boni Lake. “This was the first time we saw four to five breeding pairs. But this year, only one pair was recorded. While the place has no apparent vulnerability, somehow water birds have not returned,” provides Janardhan. At Boni Lake, the variety of species is all the way down to 62 this 12 months from 84 reported final 12 months.
At water our bodies adjoining to the airport, 57 species have been recorded this 12 months, a slight enhance from 49 reported final 12 months. Nonetheless, many of those are frequent birds; waders are lacking this season. “The canal adjacent to the airport has now become a drain for residents of Akkireddypalem. This has affected the habitat and significantly reduced the diversity and number of birds,” provides Janardhan.