Asian Water Bird Census carried out in Godavari estuary

Annual bird census carried out in Godavari estuary to assess ecosystem and spot endangered bird species.

CORINGA 

An enumeration of local and migratory bird species on 25 wetlands in the Godavari estuary was conducted on Sunday (January 5) as part of the Asian Water Bird Census and the annual bird censusby the Forest Department.

Scientists from the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and Wildlife Institute of India (WII-Dehradun) and representatives from the Birds Society of Andhra Pradesh (BSAP) and International Bird Conservation Network participated in the counting.

Exercise aim to assess the ecosystem of the estuary, where the endangered great knot (Calidris tenuirostris) and vulnerable Indian skimmer (Rynchops albicollis) are sighted together in South India.

At least 60 personnel in 12 teams covered the wetlands: Sacramento Island, Pandi Pora, S. Yanam lagoon, Masaanitippa-Moolapalem, Bhairavapalem-Dariyalatippa wetland, Gadimoga, Coringa creek in the Coringa mangroves, Ramannapalem-Gaderu, Jagannadhapuram-Kakinada Bay, Etimoga-Chollangi, Kumbabhishekam and Hope Island.

Forest Range Officer (Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary) S.S.R. Vara Prasad said a flock of great knot and Indian skimmers have been sighted together at Bhairavarapalem wetland in the estuary. The final list of species sighted during the two-day bird census will be released in a week.

BNHS wetland scientist S. Siva Kumar, BNHS research scholar Pal Anthony. B, IBCN state coordinator Sri Ram Reddy and other experts shared their observations on migration trends and patterns of the birds in the estuary.