The winter migratory season has begun. Join the birds of Visakhapatnam as they document the action at our biodiversity hotspot, now with new arrivals
The first bird watching tour of the season at Podugupalem Lake was quite a surprise.
The birders recorded 54 species of birds during a two-hour session held about a month ago. “The lake is popular for raptors like red-necked falcon, marsh harrier and short-toed snake eagle. Last winter, we saw migratory species like the great crested grebe and tufted duck, which was a welcome sight and indicates that the ecosystem is well suited for migratory species,” says V. Bhagyashree, an avian biologist who Working with Wildlife Conservation through Research and Education (WCTRE) on conservation projects.
November to February is the season when migratory species arrive and birdwatchers and bird watching groups flock to the city to document the sightings of the year.
Feathered visitors A northern pintail, black-winged stilts, flamingos and one of the birds that delight in Vizag. photo Credit: Deepak Kr.
There are quite a few water bodies in and around Visakhapatnam where migratory bird species are recorded. “Araku and Lambasingi are promising places with over 100 species,” says Janardan Uppada of the Vizag Birdwatchers Society. Tagarpuvalasa Cheruvu now hosts Snipes and Vader.
The Meghadrigedda Reservoir, which is surrounded on all sides by the hill ranges of the Eastern Ghats, with steep slopes and deep gullies, is a wintering ground for many migratory birds, especially from the Central Asian Flyway. V Bhagyashree, who has co-authored a paper with Vivek Rathod on the habitat, lists the birds that have been recorded in the region: “Ten species from the family of anatidae (duck, goose). Followed by other important families such as motacillidae (pipites, wagtails) with nine species, Ardide (heron, bittern) with eight species, chardride (plovers) and Accipitridae (barrier and kite) with seven species, Cuculidae (cuckoo and cuckoo) and scolopsidae (snipes and sandpipers) which have six species.”
Of the 146 species recorded from this hotspot, the Common Pochard is listed as ‘Vulnerable’ according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, while the Blackheaded Ibis, Oriental Darter, Painted Stork, Alexandrine Parakeet Are ‘close to danger’. ‘. “Some notable migratory species include Great-crested Grebe, Eurasian Vision, Red-crested Pochard, Northern Pintail and Gadwal,” says Bhagyashree.
The past bird season saw some unusual sightings, including two female oriental pied hornbills at the Kailasagiri Hill in the heart of the city. “This was the first such record from this hill and it has opened up more exploration opportunities for the birds,” says Vikram Penmtsa, a member of the Vizag Birdwatchers Society. “NTPC ash pond is another hub for plover and shovel. Interestingly, about two years ago the birds also recorded a flamingo here.”
The Vizag Birdwatchers Society has been keeping a watch on the resident and migratory bird species of the area for the past few years. The Society has over 150 members, including 20 active members, and has documented many rare and important species. Some important findings include the Greater Flamingo, the Red-necked Falcon, and the Peregrine Falcon Raptor. The society is digitally documenting the bird species on the eBird India platform.
However, habitats such as Andhra Pradesh’s second largest freshwater lake, Kondakarla Ava Lake, which was once a popular bird spot, have seen a sharp decline in winter migrants. “There are three main criteria for habitat selection for winter migrants – availability of food, availability of space and protection from predators. If any of these are affected, it leads to a decline in the number of avian visitors,” says Bhagyashree. According to birders, an increase in fishing activity could be one of the reasons behind the decline.
For beginners, places like Indira Gandhi Zoological Park provide a good way to start a bird watching tour. “Here, there is a good number of resident species. We also saw the Asian brown flycatcher, a migratory species,” says Bhagyashree. WCTRE along with Indira Gandhi Zoological Park has been organizing regular bird walks here every weekend. Currently, the team is also in the process of documenting a list of species in the area.
However, the recent rains have worried the birds of the area. “The backwaters get flooded and people living along the banks get displaced. Due to poaching, ducks are settling in the center of the reservoir, which is another major concern here. So it becomes difficult to see; Somebody needs binoculars,” says Janardhan.
There is also concern about the progressive degradation of habitat due to man-made causes.
“Habitat destruction, industrialization in the surrounding land are all contributing to the reduction in bird numbers in the reservoir,” says Bhagyashree, “Effective siltation and declaring it equivalent to a wetland will protect this habitat for our feathered friends. There are a few ways to do it. “
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