The 14th edition of the Tamirabharani Waterbird Count, an annual event conducted to spot and document domestic and migratory waterbirds in Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, and Thoothukudi districts, will take place from February 15 to 17. This collaborative survey is organized by ATREE’s Agathyamalai Community Conservation Centre, Manimutharu; Nellai Nature Club, Tirunelveli; Pearl City Nature Society, Thoothukudi; and Pushpalata Educational Centre, Tirunelveli. The event receives financial support from Brakes India and Sundaram Finance.
The Tamirabharani river, along with its tributaries and irrigation tanks, plays a vital role in sustaining agriculture and transforming the region into a rice bowl and banana basket of southern Tamil Nadu. These water bodies harboring over 100 waterbird species make it a popular landscape for birds during winter. While Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary is well-known for bird watching in Tirunelveli, there are several other ponds in the southern districts that provide crucial habitats for thousands of birds.
Although highly polluted, the trees surrounding Nainarkulam pond in Tirunelveli serve as nesting grounds for Darter and Grey Heron. Tanks in Vadakku Kazhuvoor and Gangaikondan witness nesting of Pelicans and Ibises annually. Rajagopalaperi and Vagaikulam tanks in Tenkasi serve as thriving breeding grounds, and Rajavallipuram, Kalkurichi, Kuppaikurichi tanks in Tirunelveli, and Perungulam, Vellur, Kadambaakulam, Nallur tanks in Thoothukudi district attract migratory species. The abundance of birds in these ponds indicates their fertility.
Since 2011, the Tamirabharani Waterbird Count has aimed to protect and conserve these ponds by preventing their destruction and ensuring proper management. The survey encourages local residents’ active participation and welcomes bird experts and volunteers to contribute to the conservation and betterment of these cherished habitats.
Aspirants interested in participating in the TWC 2024 can register online via the provided link. For further inquiries, they can contact A. Thanigaivel via email at twbc2020@gmail.com or by phone at 94429 65315. The registration deadline is February 14. The orientation for volunteers will take place on February 15 at Pushpalata School in Palayamkottai, followed by the waterbird census in Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, and Thoothukudi districts on February 16 and 17.
