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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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