TIRUNELVELI: Poaching and blasting of fire crackers used to chase away birds by those who have obtained fishing lease, pose serious threat to the migratory birds in the wetlands of Thamirabarani basin in the southern districts of Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi.
Releasing the result of the 8th edition of the ‘Thamirabarani Water birds Count’ held for three days from January 25 this year, ornithologist and the coordinator of ‘Agasthiyamalai Community Conservation Centre’ M Mathivanan said that though the number of birds sighted during this year’s water birds count increased to 34,189 due to moderate rainfall, increased anthropological activities pose serious threat to the wetland ecosystem in Thamirabarani basin that otherwise has the capacity to attract large number of migratory water birds than any other wetland in the state. According to the report released on Tuesday, 69 species of birds numbering 34,189 have been sighted in the 46 irrigation tanks, where the census was carried out this year. Among these water birds now sighted, around 10,000 were migratory birds like Northern Pintail, Garganey, common pochard, and common teal.
