In Season’s Start, AP Awaits Arrival of More Migratory Birds

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh is expected to witness the arrival of several species of migratory birds, in increasing numbers, given the prevalence of a conducive atmosphere this time.

The previous season, a year ag,o saw the arrival of 3.53 lakh birds.

AP has popular wildlife sanctuaries like the Kolleru, Coringa, Krishna, the Pulicat bird sanctuary, the Nelapattu bird sanctuary, Telineelapuram and several wetlands and migratory birding areas.

These birds arrive mainly from parts of European, central and south Asian countries and also from parts of Russia and China, beginning from mid-October and stay put here for feeding.

Resident birds also go for nesting and breeding up to February or March.

The forest department maintains that the wetlands, water bodies and mangrove forests have the availability of adequate water, unlike the last year’s case of heavy rainfall and the resultant filling up of water up to the brim in such areas.

The birds get good feed in the form of worms, fish, algae, plankton etc.

Migratory species like Indian Skimmer, Great Knot, Eurasian Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit, Marsh Sandpiper and resident birds like Spot-billed Pelican, Painted Stork, Asian Openbill and a host of others have been spotted.

An international NGO, called Wetlands International, has released a schedule for taking up ‘Asian Waterbird Census’ from the end of December to the first week of February next year. Accordingly, the forest authorities have taken up the census of birds in Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary and its surrounding areas from January 4 to 5 and recorded the presence of around 44,298 birds of 108 species based on preliminary assessment.

They will be taking up a bird census in other sanctuaries and water bodies soon.

Kakinada district forest officer Ramachandra Rao said, “We have taken up the bird census in Coringa and its surrounding areas and found the arrival of more birds this year.”

The foresters are expecting a similar rise in the number of birds that arrived in several parts of the state this year.

Mangrove forests like Coringa are attracting more birds given the availability of food mainly due to the presence of a mix of both saline and fresh water.

Moreover, the foresters have tried to ensure protection to them from the poachers by carrying out awareness programmes.

They have warned anti-social elements that stern action would be initiated if they tried to catch and kill the migratory birds.