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Participation in Shendurney WLS Survey
Camp : Idimuzhanganpara Team : Prakash G , Ramanasaran Hari , Biju and Akil Narration : Prakash G
A brief opening meeting was conducted at the forest office 10 AM once everyone assembled . Dr . Kalesh Sadasivan addressed the survey volunteers along with forest officials and gave a brief introduction about the Sanctuary and explained the regions , geography , possible sightings along with the necessary documents . Volunteers were split into 9 different teams to conduct a synchronised survey across the SWLS . Each team consisted of 2 bird and butterfly watchers each along with forest department staff . After the meeting , SWLS Forest department arranged lunch for all . After the lunch , volunteers were taken to their assigned camps by road and water . By 7 PM all the volunteers have reached their respective camps . For some , reaching their camp itself was an adventure . We were assigned to Idimuzhanganpara Camp . Along with Umayar Camp team , we travelled by boat for about an hour and reached our camp by 4 PM . On the way , we saw some birds on the shores of the backwaters like Red-wattled Lapwings , White -browed Wagtails ; a sub-adult Crested Hawk Eagle and an Indian Guar quenching their thirsts ; and some Indian black turtles were basking in the sun . As soon as we reached our camp , we spotted some good butterfly movements . Ramanasaran Hari threw his baggage ( like a boy returning from school ) and rushed to see the butterflies fluttering around . Our camp was surrounded with tall trees , thick bushes and grasses on all the three sides . The front side of the camp is covered by backwaters with sub-merged grassland which gives a royal look .
On Day 1 ( on Saturday ), before starting our transect , we quickly had a check on the surroundings , where we found some bird & butterfly movements . Jungle babblers , Rufous babbler , Emerald Dove , Cattle Egrets , Pond Herons , Greater Racket-tailed and Bronzed Drongos were in good numbers along with a few Peahen and Brown Shrikes . Butterflies like Blue Tiger , Common Emigrant , Blue-banded Pierrot , Common Nawab , Common Albatross were seen in plenty along with some banded awls .
By 8 AM , we started our transect , by walking into the forest behind our camp using straight line method covering 3 kilometres . Due to heavy rain on previous day night the path we followed was wet , but not slushy . Since our area is surrounded by water and thick canopy of moist deciduous forest , most of our survey route was covered under shadows . After walking down for about one and a half kilometres , we found an open area where we could see some good bird and butterfly movements . We stopped there for about 30 minutes and recorded a few birds like Purple-rumped sunbird , Golden-fronted Leafbird , Greater Racket-tailed Drongo , Vernal Hanging Parrot , Malabar Parakeet , Bronzed Drongo , Ashy Drongo , Red-whiskered Bulbul and heard calls of Southern Hill Myna and White-cheeked Barbet ; Butterflies like Blue Mormon , Rustic , Blue Banded Pierrot , Brown King Crow , Red Helen , Southern Birdwing , Malabar Rose , Clipper , Black-veined Sergeant , Malabar Banded Swallowtail , Malabar Rose , etc .
By walking further down for about one kilometre , we reached one side of the shores of backwaters and spent a few minutes there by seeing a banded fish with its red colour cute babies . While returning back , we saw a few more birds like Brownbreasted Flycatcher , Greater Flameback , Brown-caped Pygmy Woodpeckers , Indian Paradise Flycatcher and butterflies like White-banded Awl , Complete Paint-brush Swift and a few more . By 11:30 AM , we finished our transect with 25 + birds and butterfly species which was lesser than expected . During afternoon our team members Ramanasaran Hari and Akil were recording some more butterflies and spiders around . Again in the evening , we ventured into our nearby areas and saw a Lesser Fish eagle , a flock of storks in flight along with some more birds and butterflies like Extra Lascar and Tamil Lacewing . Vernal Hanging Parrots , Malabar Parakeets , Greater Rackettailed Drongos , White-cheeked Barbets , Malabar Grey Hornbills and Greenish Warblers were keep making calls around all the time there .
On the morning of Day 2 ( on Sunday ), we did not go much deeper into the forest as our boat was expected to pick up us at 9:30 AM . So , we spent our time in nearby areas from 7AM and saw a good amount of birds and butterflies like Common Woodshrike , Scarlet Minivet ( both male and female ), Vernal Hanging Parrot , Yellow-browed Bulbul , Flame-throated Bulbul , Brown Shrike , Greater Coucal , Malabar Parakeet , Emerald Dove , Greenish Warbler , Indian Paradise flycatcher , Jungle Babbler , Little Egret etc ; butterflies like Orange Awlet , Orange-tail Awl and Blue Mormon .
The boat , however , reached only by 10:45 AM . On the way down , we saw Great Egret , Black Eagle , Whiskered Tern , Redwattled Lapwing , White-browed Wagtail . We could hardly see any migratory and resident waders during our trip . Overall the trip gave us a good experience and introduction to many fellow bird and butterfly enthusiasts of Kerala . The hospitality , arrangement and stay were excellent , thanks to Kerala Forest Department and Dr . Kalesh Sadasivan for giving us this wonderful opportunity !
PATTAMPOOCHI A TNBS MAGAZINE WINGS 2 VEINS 1
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