The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Visakhapatnam News : Rare sea eagle makes a comeback

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Friday, Mar 19, 2010
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

Rare sea eagle makes a comeback

Nivedita Ganguly

A massive nest atop a 100-year-old banyan tree spotted at INS Kalinga

At least five, six new nests have been spotted in the city, studies say
The birds are sensitive to any kind of disturbance, says expert

flying high: A fully grown white-bellied sea eagle being followed by a crow at INS Kalinga near Bheemunipatnam in Visakhapatnam on Thursday.

VISAKHAPATNAM: Recent studies on the globally threatened species of white-bellied sea eagle along the Vizag coast have indicated a positive trend in the population of the magnificent raptor bird. Nature lovers and researchers have found an increase in the sightings of the sea eagle and its nesting areas.

Among the undisturbed nesting zones, a massive nest atop a 100-year-old banyan tree within the pristine ambience of the INS Kalinga near Bheemunipatnam was recently spotted by nature lovers. The tree has been a home to these sea eagles for more than three years and gives shelter to a pair of fully grown adults and two sub-adult white-bellied sea eagles.

Enveloped in rich tree cover, INS Kalinga, the technical support base of Eastern Naval Command at Bheemunipatnam, is home for more than 50 varieties of resident bird species including the endangered white-bellied sea eagle. Interestingly, Kalinga has been one of the most favoured nesting zones of these eagles and birders have noticed these species in the area from the past 15 years.

According to the latest studies, more than five to six new nests of the sea eagles were spotted in the city during the past one year.

The increase in the number of nesting areas of the sea eagle has raised hopes for the revival of this species in the southern coast. In the recent past, one of the massive nests at the Andhra University campus was abandoned by a pair . Researchers have found that this endangered species tend to desert their nests when disturbed.

According to B. Bharatha Lakshmi of the Department of Zoology, Andhra University, habitat disturbances and coastal pollution are some of the reasons that led to the fall in the numbers of this magnificent raptor. “They are very sensitive to any kind of disturbances and may desert the nests and young ones if disturbed. Habitat destruction also affects breeding success,” she adds.

The white-bellied sea eagle that belongs to the Accipitridae family is an endangered species listed in Schedule I of Wildlife Protection Act and also listed in the Red Data Book as a vulnerable species.

It is one of the largest raptor in Southeast Asia, and the second largest bird of prey in the world. One of the unique characteristics of the bird is its monogamous nature.

They form pairs for life and are mostly sedentary once a home range has been established. “They select secluded places and high tree tops for nesting, which is used for many seasons in succession,” Bharatha Lakshmi said.

The nest is massive and strong and is located in tall trees up to 30 metres above the ground.

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