Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore   

Census finds birds healthy

V.S. Palaniappan

NATURAL BEAUTY: A green bee-eater sighted in the Coimbatore reserve forests during the bird census.

Coimbatore: A large number of raptors sighted during the two-day bird census in Coimbatore Forest Division is an indication that the avian population was healthy in an ideal habitat, said the District Forest Officer, I. Anwardeen.

He told The Hindu that more than 40 field staff including 11 experts at 11 camps in the six ranges of Coimbatore division took part. Teams comprised wildlife biologists, nature enthusiasts, amateur bird watchers, forest staff and wildlife photographers.

Conservator of Forests, P.C. Tyagi provided guidance. Range Officer, A. Soundarajan and K. Ramkumar, Wildlife Biologist of the Department, made the arrangements for the census.

In Coimbatore, Pooluvampatti, Periyanaickenpalayam, Karamadai and Sirumugai ranges, the total number of species ranged from 50 to 133.

Among the species sighted were crested hawk eagle and black eagles, Nilgiris wood pigeon, Great Indian Hornbill, Malabar Dragon and Rufus-bellied hawk eagle, Indian edible nest swiftlet, white-cheeked barbet, crimson-throated barbet, yellow-browed bulbul, Malabar whistle thrush and black-headed babbler.

In the migrant species, the census-takers sighted hen harrier, common buzzard, booted eagle from Europe and grey wagtail from the Himalayan ranges.

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