The snakebirds of Kerala

[Guest guest]

*http://www.hindu.com/mag/2007/07/22/stories/2007072250120700.htm*

*Feathered friends *

 

VENUS VINOD UPADHYAYA

 

More than 250 Darters out of the 4,000 left in the world are breeding in a

single village in Kerala, thanks to many community initiatives.

 

Photo: Venus Vinod Upadhyaya

 

*Coming home: A colony of Darters in Aloor. *

 

For decades, Aloor village in Thrissur district of Kerala has been a

breeding ground for many avian species, but never Darters. It was only in

1999 that six nests of Oriental Darters were seen in the village for the

first time . This number increased to 30 by 2005 and has been rapidly

increasing since then. So much so, these near cousins of Cormorants, which

were seen breeding earlier for only three months in the village are now

doing so for nine months, from April to December.

Largest single colony

 

In the 1993 Asian census conducted by the International Waterfowl and

Wetland Research Bureau and the Asian Wetland Bureau, 1,526 Darters were

spotted in Asia. Of these, 1,196 were seen in India and 64 in Kerala. Aloor

may thus be supporting the largest Darter colony to be found anywhere in

India.

 

The moment one lands in Aloor one sees a lot of rare birds flying around.

Just a walk through the village and one can see these long, slender-necked

birds breeding in large numbers on tamarind, jackfruit, mango and rain

trees.

 

Darters are monogamous and the pair bond during the breeding season. They

usually breed in colonies near a food source.

 

Darters feed mainly on fish. They use their sharply pointed bill to spear

their prey when they dive; this is how they get their name. These birds use

their feet to move underwater and quietly stalk and ambush their prey. They

then stab the prey, such as a fish, and bring them to the surface where they

toss it into the air and catch and swallow it.

 

While swimming with their bodies submerged, their long slender necks give

the appearance of a snake and thus they are also referred to as Snake birds.

One can go around the Kole wetlands near the village and watch these Snake

birds enjoying a swim through the rain-submerged paddy fields.

 

The Kole wetland harbours the third largest bird population in India as it

is an easy source of food and habitat.

Familiar story

 

According to the Bird Life International, Darters are a globally threatened

species of water birds. They are listed in the Red Data book. This threat is

due to the destruction of their habitat and large scale poaching. The Kole

wetland had long ago lost most of the habitat trees to cash plantations.

Many birds had to look for trees in the villages around, where they became

more vulnerable to poaching. They were either hunted for fun or food.

Besides, many times their habitat trees in the village were cut by locals to

prevent the stench that emanates from defecation and rotting remains of

fallen fish from the nests above.

 

Rajkumar Namboodri, an ex-Panchayat member from the village and an ardent

bird lover, expresses grief over the apathy generally shown towards birds.

" In 2001 many trees in our village railway station compound were cut down

during the nesting season for line electrification. Hundreds of nests,

including those of Darters, fell down and a large number of chicks died. "

 

Kole is a public property and the whole problem gets aggravated as it is yet

to get the status of a wildlife reserve under the Wildlife Protection Act.

 

It took a lot of effort for a few like Namboodri to make everyone understand

the importance of protecting these birds. The village Panchayat made special

efforts to help villagers understand the ecological importance of the birds

and the wetlands around.

 

Thus, when in 2003, the Kerala State Electricity Board came up with plans to

cut down more trees in the nesting season , the villagers got together and

secured a stay order from the Kerala High Court.

 

The villagers are fully aware of the endangered status of Darters and stand

strong to protect them. They have also sent a petition to the President of

the country to help protect the Darters in the village. Namboodri explains,

" There are big trees around the village railway station and many Darters are

breeding there. No railway line is being laid but still some railway

contractors are trying to cut the trees. We were left with no other option

but to write to the President. "

 

To help these birds more the nature club of IHRD Polytechnic in the village

has planted 100-habitat trees in and around their campus in the past two

years. At present there are 62 Darter nests in the polytechnic campus alone.

Future plans

 

The Aloor Panchayat has also passed a resolution requesting the State

government to declare 100 acres of its Kole wetland as a community reserve.

As a community reserve, Kole will have all the privileges of a wildlife

sanctuary or a national park and will also have the additional advantage of

local community participation as it will become statutory for the Government

to set up a " participatory management " involving the local community.

 

The village understands the many added benefits of having a wildlife

reserve. As M.S. Moideen, the Panchayat President spells out, " Getting the

status of a protected reserve under the Wildlife Protection Act will not

only make it easy for us to protect these birds but will also maintain the

water table level of the area. It will set an example for others around the

country. " The Panchayat has got more plans. " In the near future we want to

start a bird information centre in the Panchayat Office, " K.C. Madhavan,

another Panchayat member mentioned.

 

Aloor's community certainly has got lots to do. Many new species like Stork

and White Ibis, which have been reported only from few places in Kerala,

have made an appearance around the village. They also want their share of

protection and Aloor will certainly live up to their hopes.