THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The social forestry department will undertake a study on the role of migratory birds in spreading bird flu even as nature lovers’ forum Warblers and Waders and WWF’s Kerala chapter have expressed dismay over the officials jumping to the conclusion that migratory birds are the villains.
The alien visitors like black-winged stilt, common sandpiper, green sandpiper, wood sandpiper and golden plover are now mostly seen in the wetlands of Punchakari, Aakulam and Veli in Thiruvananthapuram district.
Mr C. Susanth, a bird watcher and coordinator of Warblers and Waders, a city-based bird watchers’ organisation, rejected the observation made by the animal husbandry and health department officials that the bird flu in Alappuzha, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts was caused by migratory birds.
WWF Kerala state director Ranjan Mathew Varghese said that the baseless panic was caused by the reports that a migratory bird was found dead in water in central Kerala.
“This stray incident cannot be cited as reason for the bird flu. But the forest department has to undertake a study on the real causes of bird flu,” he said.
Principal chief conservator of forests (social forestry) Dr. B. S. Corrie said that a field director with the forest department, Dr. Amit Malik, based in Kottayam had been entrusted to file a report on migratory birds.
“We have directed the social forestry officials to be alert about the public finding anything strange in respect of migratory birds,” he said.
