Kerala Birdrace 2012 Photos

The Kerala Bird race 2012 was held in Kochi on 18th November 2012.This was organized by Yuhina Ecomedia with CNHS and NEST,Thrissur,Kottayam Nature Society etc.101 participants in 21 teams from Kochi and Thrissur area took part in the race.The team led by Sarath from Thrissur with 134 species won the first prize.Dr.Prasanth S Nair of CNHS and team won the second prize with 107 species and the third prize was won by the team of Ginu George of CNHS with 103 species tally. The Bird Of The Day was Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher spotted by Vishnu Sivadas and Kripesh, both CNHS members , in Thattekkad area. The valedictory function was attended by, Sunjoy Monga of Yuhina Ecomedia and Vishnupriyan Kartha from CNHS.And the guest of honor was Dr.V J Dominic,Head of the Department of Botany,S H College Thevara and the president of the Nature Club in the College.This was followed by a banquet which all enjoyed with much camaraderie. Vishnu

CNHS Chinnar Trip

6th KERALA BIRD RACE

Dear friends,

The sixth Kerala Bird Race will be held on 18th November 2012 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode. Kerala Birder along with  Yuhina Eco-Media  and CNHS is organizing the Bird Race in Kochi,  on 18th November 2012. Kerala Bird Race is a dawn to dusk event where teams of bird-watchers will spend the entire day birding in and  around  each city. There are no pre- determined routes - you can watch birds in multiple locations all within 100km radius of each of the site to see as many  species as you can. The participants will try to record as many species of birds as possible; learn about the finer points of bird-watching from the experts & the experienced, and then later in the evening, all teams will meet at a suitable venue over dinner and an interactive tête-à-tête.

While there are strict rules, there is a fun element to this exercise,which will help stimulate enormous interest in bird-watching as a highly popular hobby. The event will give us a good idea of the nature of this region's birdlife and helped build up support for environment and nature conservation.

Of course, there is also the team spirit and participation that comes into focus here. To ensure that the results are as infallible and in principle as correct as possible, each city has two or three special adjudicators who analyze the results and announce the winners at a special programme held in the evening. The adjudicators are either highly experienced bird-watchers or much-respected senior naturalists or conservationists.

Each Team gets an opportunity to interact with the others and recount their day's experiences. All in all, it is a great end to a day well spent with and for the feather-folk, and for nature.

Last year, we had more than 350 bird-watchers on the field on a single day, many of them fresh into the hobby. A few of the teams came up with whooping tally of 140+ species on a single day. Birdwatchers from other states are encouraged to take it as a chance to do some great birding in Kerala. We regularly have participants from Kanyakumari district joining us at Thiruvananthapuram.

The Grand Plan

Play the race hard - try to see as many species as you can from dawn to dusk before assembling to your chosen site for the evening dinner.Play the race to enjoy and share – each of you can treat it as an opportunity to make one another person interested in birds and share the joy.

Birdwatchers across Kerala (& outside) shall participate in this event - choose a convenient city where you can assemble for the evening of Nov 18th and contact the right coordinator.

Sites could be outside the district or even state.

You are free to make your own team. Each team can be 3 or 4 members;but there should be one good birdwatcher with every team who can identify most of the species around the city. You should name your team with a bird's name - we had several interesting names last time like "Falcons", "Cuckoos", "Flycatchers" etc. Also, make sure you drop in your phone numbers with the coordinators.

If you are a beginner bird-watcher and is not able to find a team, you still can contact the coordinators and they will help you out for finding you a team with a good bird-watcher in it.

This event has many nature conservation organisations from Kerala in the lead - WWF-Kerala, Kottayam Nature Society, Cochin Natural History Society, Malabar Natural History Society, Nature Education Society,Thrissur,Kottayam Nature Society, and several others.

 

Happy Birding,
Vishnu

Whom to Contact (Site Coordinators):

Thiruvananthapuram:
A K Sivakumar (WWF-India)
Phone: 94473 86978
Email wwfklsoATgmail.com / asivakumarATwwfindia.net

Kochi:
Vishnupriyan Kartha (CNHS)
Phone: 94464 37410
Email: cochinnhsATyahoo.com

Kozhikode:
Sathyan Meppayur (MNHS)
Phone: 94472 04182
Email: satyanmpr@gmail.com


Whom to Contact (General)
P.O.Nameer
Phone: +91 94465 73106 (After 23rd Oct)
Email: nameerpo@gmail.com

Praveen J
Phone: +91 94480 39906
Email: paintedstork@gmail.com

PELAGIC Birding Trip off Kochi

The Second Pelagic Birding Trip organized by CNHS is scheduled to flag off from Marine Drive Jetty,Kochi on 04th November 2012.

If you are new to Pelagic Birds here are a few bits of info:-

Definition:

Pelagic Birds are birds that spend a significant portion of their life on the open ocean, rarely venturing to land except to breed. Pelagic birds may be found hundreds or thousands of miles offshore and are powerful fliers that can remain aloft for hours while gliding or soaring. When the birds rest, they do so floating on the water. Pelagic birds typically feed on fish, squid and crustaceans as well as offal from fishing ships or trash dumped into the ocean.There are dozens of pelagic bird species with a great range of sizes and ranges. Types of pelagic birds include shear-waters, albatrosses and petrels.

Some of the Pelagic Birds are:

Persian Shearwater,Flesh-footed Shearwater, Frigate Birds,  Tropic birds and Noodies,Redbilled tropic bird,Pomarine Skua, Arctic (Parasitic) Skua ,Masked Booby, Flesh-footed Shearwater, Bridled Tern, Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Wilson's Storm-Petrel, Sooty Tern, Persian Shearwater, . Swinhoe's Storm Petrel, Jouanin's Petrel,Streaked Shearwater, Red-necked phalarope etc.

Some Pelagic surveys conducted from Kerala and Karnataka coasts:

1. First Pelagic Bird Trip off Kerala- 27^th & 28^th Sept 2010. (Kannur)

2. Pelagic Trip 28^th & 29^th May 2011.(Kannur)

3. 3^rd 4^th April 2011.Kannur& Mulki

4. 31^st July 2011.Chavakkad

5. 24-25 Sept. 2011 Kannur coast

6. 15-16 Oct. 2011 west coast-Karnataka

7. 26-02-2012 Kochi

8. 30/09 -01/10 2012 Vizhinjam coast.

The cost of the trip planned on 04^th November is expected to be 1200- 1500.This includes the rent of the boat and the cost of food. The trip starts at 07.00 am from Marine Drive Jetty, Kochi and return in the evening.

Please book your slot immediately by calling me/mailing me.

Regards,

Vishnu

9446437410(m)

CNHS Chinnar Birding Camp

Read report on the recently concluded Chinnar Birding camp;

http://www.madhyamam.com/epaper/newstory.php?id=33962&boxid=7533531

http://epaper.mathrubhumi.com/epaperstory_79504-33927968-9/16/2012-.aspx

Avian enthusiasts flock to the ornithological paradise of Kochi

The Hindu : NATIONAL / KERALA : Avian enthusiasts flock to the ornithological paradise of Kochi

World Migratory Bird Day programme- Some Pictures

 Welcome Speech:-









Hari Mavelikkara Speaking on Bird Identification

 Listening to the Presentation:-

 -:Sivakumar speaking

 In the field:-

 -:In front of Mangalavanam

 Photography Exhibition:-

 -:Film Show

Exhibition Venue:-

Observing World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD)

Dear Friends,
We are observing world migratory birds day on 17th- 19th May 2012 at Kochi, along with WWF, State Biodiversity Board,George Eden Memorial Charitable Trust and Fireflies.

World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) is a global initiative devoted to celebrating migratory birds and for promoting their conservation on the second weekend of May every year and the world take action and organize public events such as bird festivals, education programmes and bird watching excursions to celebrate WMBD. All such global events are linked through a single global campaign and theme. This year’s theme is “Migratory birds and people - together through time’’ set with an objective to raise awareness on the dramatic effects of continuing relationship between migratory birds and people.

All nature lovers are  invited to participate .Contact me at +919446437410

For detailed programme please Click Here

New species of caecilian amphibian reported from Kerala

The Hindu : Today's Paper / NATIONAL : New species of caecilian amphibian reported from Kerala

PELAGIC BIRD SURVEY - PHOTOS

Hello Everybody,

The photos of  the recently concluded Pelagic Bird Survey  from Munambam fishing Harbor is posted in the right panel. Enjoy the slide show.

Donald Trump boys with animal trophies from Africa

Dear all,

All over the word on the one hand  many nature lovers and  sensible persons are battling a sometimes loosing battle to save the biodiversity and animals.On the other hand rich and famous go on a killing spree in the name sports hunting killing off wild animals using sophisticated fire arms in Africa.. reminding us of colonial times:

Click on this link to watch one such a story:

Donald Trump Family on a killing spree!!

Regards,
Vishnu

Pelagic Survey Report

 

Dear friends,

 

 

The first ever Pelagic Survey from Kochi, organized by us (CNHS) and  Kerala Birder was flagged off from Munambam fishing harbor on 26/02. The one day voyage to survey the sea birds off the coast of Kochi started early in the morning and was inaugurated by Sri.C.G.Natesan, a senior citizen interested in nature and nature conservation.

 

 The  survey track was recorded by Sri. Toms Augustine,  using GPS equipments and the vessel covered a total of 36 nautical miles area into the Arabian sea.

 

The major sea birds sightings recorded during the survey were the stragglers

like Arctic Skua, Pomarine Skua winter visitors like the Great Blackheaded Gull, Brownheaded Gull, Heuglins Gull, Crested Tern, Whiskered Tern and Bridled Tern.

 

It is reported that very few records were available about the sighting of the Arctic skuas off the coast of Kochi; however, the sightings of the birds in different plumage variations were an experience of a lifetime to the survey team.

Twenty one bird watchers and nature photographers, led by Dr. Dr.Dilip K.G., Praveen E S, Ginu George, Sandeep Das, Toms Augustine,Dr.Anudath,Adv.Paul Puthur, Gopal Prasad,Kripesh ,Bijoi ,Pradeep ,Gopinathan Nair,Depalan,Raveendran K C, Sudeep Elamon,Sri Aby ,Sri.  Vasanth, myself  and youngsters Adil Anudath and Ammini Puthur ,were in the team.

 

                                       Arctic Skya ©E S Praveen

Photos were taken by Sri E S Praveen, Sandeep Das, Bijoi KI ,Gopal Prasad and Sudeep Elamon. The sea was relatively calm; climate sunny and hot; not much clouds and fishing vessels were sporadic in the sea compared to our last trip off Chettuva coast.

 

Warm Regards,

Vishnu

First ever Pelagic Birds Survey from Kochi

Dear friends,

Flesh footed Shearwater from the last Pelagic trip on 31-07-2011

CNHS is organizing the first ever Pelagic Birds Survey trip from Kochi on Sunday 26th February.We will start from the Munambam Fishing Harbor on the Sunday morning and venture into the deep sea in a  big vessel to watch the many migrant pelagic birds like Shear-waters,Storm Petrels and many Gulls etc...This will be a memorable and different sort of birding experience for all our members.For more details contact Vishnu @ 9446437410(m)

Regards,

Secretary

Un id-ed