JOINT EFFORT: The group, Mysore Amateur Naturalists, has sought volunteers for the census.

MYSORE: This is one exercise that is eagerly awaited by birdwatchers.

It is the annual mid-winter waterfowl census conducted by the Mysore Amateur Naturalists (MAN) during which volunteers will fan out across Mysore, Mandya and Chamarajanagar to take a count of water birds that are mostly migratory.

This year's census will be held from January 7 to 14 and it involves counting of all water birds found in lakes, rivers, estuaries, paddy fields and other waterlogged areas.

The annual counting of water birds has aided in the conservation of birds as also the wetlands.

How it started

Describing the genesis of the census, K. Manu, secretary, MAN, pointed out that the earliest attempt to enumerate and ascertain the status of waterfowls was made in 1987 by the International Wetland and Waterfowl Bureau in response to the degradation of wetlands in Asia and the subsequent decline of waterfowl populations.

The Asian Waterfowl Census was envisaged and initiated by the Wildfowl Trust based in Slimbridge, U.K. and with the active support of hundreds of amateur and professional birdwatchers across Asia, the status of various wetlands and waterfowls was established.

This provided a long-term system to monitor birds and within five years of the commencement of the exercise, the data threw a wealth of information on the threatened species and sites, all of which helped in making conservation efforts. This system proved beneficial for monitoring wetlands using birds as bio-indicators.

It was pointed out that in India, the data generated through such voluntary efforts helped in identifying wetland sites for conservation.

Of the 466 priority sites that are recognised for conservation, about a thirds are wetland habitats.

MAN has provided data for consideration of 19 sites as wetlands of importance in Mysore, Mandya and Chamarajanagar districts.

In Mysore, Kukkkarahalli, Karanji and Lingambudi lakes have been identified as being significant while Narasambudhi, Kunthur and Kallur in Chamarajanagar and Sulekere in Mandya districts have been identified as being important wetland sites for birds.

Ranganathittu and Kokkrebellur in Mandya districts are also wetlands of national importance.

Registration

MAN expects to enumerate 70 species of birds found across 163 lakes in the three districts.

Volunteers who wish to participate in the census may call 9886383793 for registration and other details.

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