My Talk With Birds-1
C.R. Ramana Kailash, Kanyakumari
Birds, one of the richest and most spectacular creations in our nature; are spread across the world. They are descended from the prehistoric feathered dinosaurs which lived in the late Jurassic period and are now extinct. These feathered wonders have conquered all domains of our planet from the frigid poles to dry Saharan deserts, from tropical rainforests of the equator to watery oceans of the Pacific. 
Birding
The world of birds is diverse and rich. Birding is a hobby or profession of observing birds in their habitats. It is one way to get connected with this vivid and beautiful world. Birding is both a recreational activity and a citizen science, and can be followed by amateurs too.
Birds can be classified by their family, habits, characteristics or their habitats. They can be aquatic or terrestrial and aerial birds.
Here we talk about different kinds of aquatic birds. The rest will be covered in the next issue of JM.
Aquatic Birds
Aquatic birds are the birds which live predominantly in or around water bodies, mostly fish-eaters. A few are migratory. Each of them are adapted in distinct ways like developed bills, webbed feet, long legs and streamlined bodies etc. Aquatic birds can be subdivided further into freshwater, saline, seabirds, shorebirds, waders, waterfowls and even more. Birding of aquatic birds is easier.
i. Freshwater Birds
I got interested in bird watching while visiting Koonthankulam Bird sanctuary, a freshwater lake in Thirunelveli. Numerous painted storks soared over the skies; the sound of flapping wings of those massive birds resembled the whirring sound of a helicopter. Terns flew all around the watch tower. The lake located farther away from our watch tower looked pinkish because of numerous greater flamingoes.
We stood on the watch tower for two hours waiting for Spoonbills. After 6 o’ clock, I was rewared: a spoonbill hovered over the skies.
While visiting Vaduvoor bird sanctuary, Thiruvaroor, I had sufficient knowledge to identify common aquatic birds; I had a small pocket size bird guide for identifying common, aquatic birds of Tamilnadu. This bird sanctuary was not as diverse as Koonthankulam, but it housed huge flocks of white Ibises, Cormorants and few painted storks. Ibises were stranger than other birds with curvy, thin bills and featherless heads. I saw an Ibis feeding its chicks; it was scenic. I later found that Ibises are one of the most celebrated birds of Tamil literature as “andril paravaigal”.
During a birders meet in Rajapalayam (2018), I got familiar with many birds which I had never seen before as well as their calls. During bird census in Kanyakumari, I was able to see a Pheasant-tailed Jacana with its breeding plumage, which is very different from its usual one. It had a brilliant silky golden nape, white front, wings and a long central tail which makes them more attractive than their normal plumage. I spotted a male with 4-5 females on a lotus pond in northern Kanyakumari.
I also spotted a flock of Knob-billed Ducks flying over the skies. A large male bird among the flock had a comical round shaped bill which gives its name. Those hefty ducks had glossy greenish black wings, black spots all over their white body. They are one of the rarest migratory birds in Tamilnadu. I was lucky to see them.
Vembanad Lake is one of the largest freshwater lakes in India. This fragile, freshwater lake ecosystem, houses many important birds of southern India. But we spotted only a few little Cormorants, Gulls and Gray Herons.
ii. Saline water Birds
Hundreds of birds live in saline Mangrove forests of India. As these coastal forests are surrounded by water, they are good, safe fishing sites. I visited Point Calimere Bird Sanctuary, Nagapattinam, during off-season; it was dry under a scorching sun. Blackbucks and feral horses ran all over the dry forests of Kodiakarai. Ashy-crowned Sparrow Bushlarks flew all over the bushy scrublands. Even though they were smaller, they were much active and flew swiftly over the air. In the marshy mangroves of Kodiakarai, we could spot a pond heron, few brahminy kites and an eurasian curlew.
I had visited Manakudy-Rajakamangalam backwaters multiple times. Manakudy mangroves are richer and house hundreds of birds. During a boat trip through the complex mangroves of Manakudy, large Gray Herons and colorful Painted Storks waded in the shallow marshes. Whiskered Terns, Black-headed Gulls and Cormorants flew and dived in the brackish waters. As we return to the shore, heavy rains lashed and the sun was about to set. A huge flock with hundreds of birds including Gulls, Terns, Cormorants and Pelicans circled the dense canopies of the mangroves and swirled around like a storm. It was one of the memorable moments I ever had. Getting on shore, we saw a large Barn Owl on a cement pole, with large black eyes and a whitish hearted face looking at me.
Mudflats and salt pans in Manakudy have a rich variety of shorebirds in Kanyakumari. Some of them like the little stints, very small waders found in flocks, travelled from Arctic Tundra to Southern India. Also we saw a large flock of Flamingoes, like a pink cloud; Kanyakumari is the only place in India to see Flamingoes throughout the year.
Let’s talk with birds and conserve them
Birds play an important role in our eco-system; birds like Vultures and Kites scavenge carcasses, reducing disease outbreak. Frugivores including Hornbills help in dispersal of seeds, expanding forest cover. Few birds like Owls and insectivorous birds feed on rodents and insects controlling pests, thus becoming friends of farmers. But most of the birds around the world are threatened; Dodos, Elephant birds, Haast’s eagle and Moa are few extinct legendary birds. Other birds including Great Indian Bustard, Jerdon’s Coursers and Himalayan Quails are on the brink of extinction. They have lost their historical ranges and lives in small natural refuges. Illegal pet trade had played a major role in exterminating many species.
Still birds are sold as pets and wildlife medicines in black markets. Many among them are regionally extinct in India; few are not recorded after the end of the millennia. Urgent protection is needed for conserving these birds; their roles can’t be substituted. Banning illegal wildlife trade and habitat restoration is needed to protect these animals. Community awareness has risen and participation of people in bird census, campaigns makes us conclude that there is a possibility of getting a bright future for birds. Let’s love birds, talk with them and conserve them.
Bibliography:
Birds of the Indian subcontinent_Richard Grimmett, Carol Inskipp and Tim Inskipp _Helm Field Guide;
Paravaigal: Arimigakkaiyedu_Jeganathan_kriya publications;
Birds of southern India_Richard Grimmett and Tim Inskipp_Bloomsbury Publishing India Private Limited.
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Photo Credits: We are grateful to Saroj Muthukumaran G, Young India Fellow 2023, who readily agreed to share his beautiful pictures with us. They were all taken in Koonthankulam Sanctuary. You can see more of his pictures and interests in https://www.ashoka.edu.in/ and https://www.instagram.com/
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To be continued