News Excerpt:

The Tamirabharani Waterbird Count 2024 which was organised recently  in the Tamirabarani river basin of Tamil Nadu has recorded over 24,000 birds.

More about the Tamirabharani Waterbird Count 2024:

• This was the 14th edition of Tamirabharani Waterbird Count (TWC).
• TWC was organised by the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment (ATREE)’s Agasthyamalai Community Conservation Centre.
• The annual exercise is conducted in Tirunelveli, Tenkasi and Thoothukudi districts after the end of northeast monsoon to assess favourable or unfavourable conditions prevailing in the water bodies for birds.
• Since 2011, this survey has been conducted with the active participation of local residents, and aims to protect and conserve these ponds, preventing their destruction and ensuring proper management. 
• This year’s count recorded an impressive 24,207 birds belonging to 66 different species. 
• Egret species including Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Medium Egret and Large Egret dominated the count with approximately 4,861 individuals. 
• Migratory duck species such as Northern Pintail, Bar-headed Geese, and Eurasian Wigeon, followed closely with a count of about 4,245. 
• Cormorant species, including Little Cormorant, Indian Shag, and Oriental Darter accounted for 3,039 birds.

Tamirabharani River:

• Thamirabarani is a perennial river that originates from the Agastyarkoodam peak of Pothigai hills of the Western Ghats.
• It flows through Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts of Tamil Nadu into the Gulf of Mannar.
• The river is about 128 kilometres long and is the only perennial river in Tamil Nadu.
• TamiraSES is a project of ATREE to restore the Thamirabarani River.
• Along with its tributaries (Chithar, Pachchaiyar, Gadana, and Ramanathi) and irrigation tanks in Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, and Thoothukudi district, Thamirabarani River not only sustains agriculture but also transforms these regions into a rice bowl and banana basket of southern Tamil Nadu. 
• These tanks are havens for a multitude of waterfowls and migratory birds during winter, boasting over 100 waterbird species in the Tamirabharani landscape.
• Out of over 100 recorded species of waterbirds in these wetlands in the past, 40 are identified as migratory birds. 
• These water bodies are not only vital for avian life but also for the well-being of future generations.