Winter bird count conducted in Vellore and nearby districts

Birds like coppersmith barbet, red-vented bulbul, and yellow-throated bulbul were spotted by the Forest Department during the first winter bird count in wetlands, covering Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupattur, and Tiruvannamalai districts on Sunday.

Forest officials said that the two-day exercise, which ended on Sunday, was done for the first time during winter season to assess the type of winged creatures, including migratory birds, in the month of December when heavy rains of northeast monsoon recedes.

“The bird count during winter helps to assess birds’ habitat, prey availability, and the existing environment. Most of the volunteers in the exercise were school students as it will help create awareness about the environment for them,” M. Babu, forest range officer (Ambur), told The Hindu.

Forest officials said that migration of a variety of bird species reflects the existing ideal condition available in the wetlands. The bird count was done between 6 a.m and 10 a.m. Each team comprises forester and forest guard, students, ornithologists, and bird enthusiasts. On an average, five wetlands are covered in each forest range in these districts.

Forest officials said most of the habitats in these districts are home for local birds that migrate within specified areas round the year. Local birds like white-browed bulbul, white-cheeked barbet, pale-billed flowerpecker, black-rumped flameback, black-winged kite and common myna were found in these districts during the bird census on Sunday. A variety of owls were also spotted in the Vellore forest division that comprises Vellore, Tirupattur, and Ranipet districts.

Forest officials said that the collected data during the exercise would be analysed in the coming days to understand the bird pattern, habitat, and living condition of the ecosystem. The bird count will also throw light on the increase or decrease of bird population in these districts, based on which course correction will be undertaken, officials said.