Recording The Sounds Of Extinction

Bernie Krause has been recording wildlife sounds, or "soundscapes," for over forty years. He's amassed the largest archive in the world, and in doing so, can chart how wildlife sounds have changed over the course of climate change. Listen for yourself: the rising silence speaks volumes.​

Wetlands for Kochi`s Sustainable Future-World Wetlands Day 2018- Panel Discussion -Invitation

Click Here for the Programme Details


All are cordially Invited for the programme

                                                    *WORLD WETLANDS DAY- 2018*

World Wetlands Day is celebrated on 2nd February each year. It marks the day of adoption of RAMSAR Convention for the conservation of Wetlands in the Iranian City of RAMSAR on this day.

It started in 1997 and is in the 22nd year running.

Wetlands defined as areas of land that are either temporarily or permanently covered by water exhibit enormous diversity according to their genesis, geographical location, water regime and chemistry. Wetlands are one of the most productive ecosystems and play crucial role in hydrological cycle. Utility wise, wetlands directly and indirectly support millions of people in providing services such as storm and flood control, clean water supply, food, fiber and raw materials, scenic beauty, educational and recreational benefits.(National Wetland Atlas Kerala 2010).

Under the text of the RAMSAR Convention (Article 1.1) wetlands are defined as: “areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six meters”. In addition, the Convention (Article 2.1) provides that wetlands: “may incorporate riparian and coastal zones adjacent to the wetlands, and islands or bodies of marine water deeper than six meters at low tide lying within the wetlands”.

In October 2018 in Dubai, during the 13th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, we will be recognizing the first cities to obtain Wetland City Accreditation under our Convention.

Reduce flooding Replenish drinking water. Filter waste and improve water quality. Improve urban air quality. Promote human well-being. Enable people to earn a living.

The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment estimates conservatively that wetlands cover seven percent of the earth’s surface and deliver 45% of the world’s natural productivity and ecosystem services of which the benefits are estimated at $20 trillion a year (Source: www.MAweb.org).

Around 64% of the earth’s wetlands are estimated to have disappeared worldwide over the last hundred years through conversion to industrial, agricultural and residential developments.

In Kerala 4354 Wetlands covering 1660590 Ha.

Ernakulam has Second largest area of Wetlands in Kerala after Aleppey district.

 Ernakulam has 25065 Ha wetlands. (10.41% of the geographical area of the district.).

That is 15.61% of the total wetland area.

Ernakulam Wetlands: - 354 nos.

To make the cities sustainable into the future:-

Include Wetlands in urban land use planning.

Preserve and restore urban wetlands.

Involve local residents in wetland planning.

Reduce water consumption and harmful runoff.

Kerala Bird Race 2017 Summary and Some Pictures

The 11th Kerala Bird Race was held on 26th November 2017 in Kochi in Kerala. 164 birdwatchers and nature enthusiast from Ernakulam, Thrissur Alappuzha, Kottayam and Idukki participated in the birding programme which is held annually commensurate with the birthday of Dr.Sa`lim Ali, Doyen of Indian Ornithology. The Kerala Bird Race is supported by HSBC Bank, Yuhina Canopy and  UWM, Mumbai.This year Birdwatchers from Jammu& Kashmir and Colorado, United States also participated. So it was an almost global event, cosmopolitan in character with people from all walks of life participating in the programme. School and College Students, Housewives, Advocates, Engineers, Software professionals, Doctors, Retired Scientists, Wildlife Photographers all enthusiastically took part in the programme. The summary of the sightings of birds is as follows:

No of species spotted/recorded:- 208.

Total Number of Checklists (lists of birds):- 124.

Number of Individual birds: - 5920.

Highlight of the day could be termed Pallas Grasshopper Warbler, which is a relatively new entrant in the Kerala Checklist of birds.

Total number of locations from where birding was done:-93 sites 
No of districts covered: - Ernakulam (63 locations), Alappuzha (20), Thrissur (7), Kottayam (2) and Idukki (1).

Habitats Covered:-Wetlands, Urban areas Lowland Forests, Hillocks, and Plantations etc.

The Valedictory Function was held at Lotus 8 Hotels in the evening on 26th November 2017 and Dr. AA Mohamed Hatha, Professor, Dept.of Marine Biology, Dr. P O Nameer ,Head, Centre for Wildlife Studies, KAU and many Birdwatchers  participated in the evening.

Kerala Bird Race 2017- Invitation

Dear Friends,

We are in the midst  of the migratory birding season and  now we can see many winged beauties in monochromes, duo tones and multi color- vibgyor , both ocurring throughout the year  in our state and those who come to visit and enthrall us with the myriad hues and huge repertoire of songs  from other parts of the globe during this time of the year.It is in this background that  the Kerala Bird Race 2017 is happening  on Sunday, 26th November in its eleventh iteration.Birds always fascinate and intrigue us with their colors shapes ,songs,calls and their jizz...which can move the hearts of even  driest of the humans....


The Bird Race with its fun element is the perfect reason and time to observe and enjoy these beauties in the company of our friends, family or expert birders .The Bird Race -though it has competitive tone in it- (but) is not a race in truest sense yet encourages us to push our limits to watch, listen to , experience and record as many and as much as birds during the course of a day. After a hectic day of birding in the surrounding areas of Kochi city and outskirts- up to 50 kms. radius-  we meet at a suitable place to share our experiences of the day, cross check and collate our sightings, determine which of the commonest birds we missed; which of the rarest ones, we were lucky to spot etc., with our fellow travelers .This is followed by the interaction with invited dignitaries and Dinner.Thus the Bird Race ends..

Training Session
This year we are having a briefing session for new birdwatchers and experienced ones to interact with each other on the previous day of the event- at Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary at 5 pm on Saturday, 25th November.

The Kerala Bird Race Event

This is followed by the bird watching event on   Sunday,  26th November  from 6 am at various locations and biding #HotSpots till evening.After the birdwatching experience,  we all meet at 6pm in  Lotus 8 Hotels, opp.CIAL Intl. Airport, Nedumbassery.

The Kerala Bird Race is supported  by HSBC Ltd.,and Yuhina Canopy,Mumbai and United Way.

Cochin Natural History Society organizes the event in Kochi.


All of you birdwatchers and also who are at least once in their lives fascinated and intrigued by birds are invited to take part in the event.



Please contact:-  Vishnupriyan Kartha.K (9446437410) for participation.

Dr.Latha Anantha(1966-2017)

Dr. Latha Anatha (1966-2017)

"A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.”

-From “A Voice Crying in the Wilderness (Vox Clamantis en Deserto) : Notes from a Secret Journal (1990).

"Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, and as vital to our lives as water and good bread"

-From "Down the River", p. 148.

"Growth for the sake of growth is a cancerous madness.”

_From "Water", p. 114.

All the above quotes are by the famed American environmental writer, Edward Abbey. The reason he and his memories came alive IS because of Dr. A. Latha, who passed away this morning (16-11-2017). For those who knew her intimately no words could measure their deep feeling of loss. She has articulated her convictions and emotions rather bluntly than choosing to be diplomatic. Rational foundations of her arguments would have escaped the eyes of the naive and by those who refused to look beyond their preconceptions. Like Abbey, Dr.Latha was a true patriot, a champion of nature and wilderness, environmental frugality, one who believed and lived to show that that it is possible to have a value system deep-rooted in the ethics and economy of nature.

She started off as a student of biology, earned an advance research degree in agricultural sciences, worked with state agricultural department and never ceased to be a student of nature. But the Philosophiæ Naturalis that she imbibed was not the one of Newton’s. Moving closely with a small but influential and significant group of naturalists who had informed the nature of environmental consciousness in Kerala and elsewhere, she had decided to rededicate herself in defence of nature. S.Unnikrishnan, a poet-hearted mechanical engineer who returned home from metropolis has given her company. It was her deep rooted selfless conviction that powered her articulations, made them influential among the youngsters. Gradually, a small collective of people who are interested in studying water, river, continuity of life around it formed and the River Research Centre (RRC) was born. Like Arne Næss, the deep ecologist who defined a watershed as the ultimate nation we live in, Dr.Latha and team had understood rightly that only a river basin is the nearest approximation the life supporting system of earth. They belived that all other boundaries would only invoke ecological externalities leading to incalculable ecological and social costs.

All the works that the team taken up preceded meticulous collation of data and information which were put into right perspective- the ecological wisdom (which many of us who are schooled for the worldly would not subscribe to). It is evident in all the major arguments put forth in all the three books she had (co-)authored. RRC gradually accumulated an impressive collection of information, data and documents which formed the basis for building arguments in support of Environmental Flow and continued protection of forested catchments. The idea of conservation was thus not merely about conservation and planting of a few trees but a whole universe of life support system which included people as well. That is the story of building arguments in support of Chalakkudy River and people in both downstream as well as upstream, campaigns against the proposed hydro Electric project, defending the Gadgil Committee report, movement to restore the first if not second irrigation project in Kerala (the Thumboor Moozhi weir and irrigation system).

The Thumboor Muzhi weir and its associated canal network were conceived and partially built even before the formation of Kerala state, for augmenting the rice paddy cultivation by irrigating about 196.90 sq. km of land in Aluva, Mukundapuram and Kunnathunadu Taluks. In the post-independence decades, due to scramble for boosting ‘industriousness’ in the state and for increased power generation, a series of inter-basin diversion projects came up in the Chalakkudy River diverting water and thus altering the flow regime in the river. Beginning with Parambikkulam Aliyar Project down to the Poringalkuthu there are two major inter-basin diversions and more than five dams in the Chalakkudy River on the upstream of Thumboor Moozhi Weir adversely impacting the flow regime of the river and water availability in the irrigation canals. The irrigation canals including the branch canals had a total length of about 400 kms! After 1980s, due to the power generation projects, interbasin diversions, peak load power production controls, the water starved Thumboormuzhi irrigation project could not deliver promised amount of water to the tail end. Gradually, canals were dried up for decades. Canal land was encroached up on, and filled in some cases beyond recognition. Food crop cultivation in the command area shifted to commercial cultivation not requiring irrigation. Dr.Latha and team could clearly perceive the state ideology, the love for mega projects, the crave for more power generation beyond the requirement of subsistence to cater the capitalist interest at the cost of small viable irrigation projects catering the needs of small holder farmers. So a ‘Bhageeratha’ effort was began. A team of young, dedicated, evergreen enthusiasts started gathering information on the irrigation scheme, unrelentingly, unyieldingly talking to land grabbers, Panchayat members, uninteresting and often stubborn, megalomaniac government officers, engineers who think they know best...400 km of canal net work...tracing the decision makers at the peak load control station, reverting back to KSEB top brasses to change their priority. Two years of campaign, water reached tail end of one canal after more than three decades !

That was a moment of great joy and celebration. Many from across India arrived to take part in the meeting that was held in a noisy, small, bare hall in the Chalakkudy town. Dr. Paul Appasamy, Engineer trained at US, expert in water resources, earlier director and professor at the Madras Institute of Development Studies and Madras School of Economics had earnestly listened to Ravi’s and Rajaneesh’s presentations and commented that ‘power generation schemes at the cost of an irrigation scheme- this would not happen in Tamil Nadu’. The reason he said was that in Tamil Nadu, when two farmers meet they invariably ask if everything is fine with vyavasaya?-referring to the agriculture. Were as in Kerala agriculture is not vyavasaya (industriousness). For us Keralites vyavasaya means factories and boilers, production line, raw material docks and mining. Paul Appasamy’s comment captured the essence of the work and perspectives of the Latha and team. The effort was truly at par with the legendary ‘Bhageeratha’s’ effort. And the perspective, Against the Grain- the dominant ideology.

Thumboor Muzhy is just one instance. Many small and large campaigns... All supported by sufficient data, maps and information, passion and emotion. Though some who hold a different perspective about the meaning of life and different idea of future but less knowledgeable about the ecological net that support our present may disagree. There are many truths in the world; Some backed by greed, arrogance of power and devices of state centric education catering the imbalanced accumulation of capital; yet another flowing gently, lovingly and caringly all the world that is around us. For Dr. Latha, a caring, quick, witty, bold and gentle, uncompromising lover of web of life the truth meant the latter. 

***

(Coutsey- C A Abdul Basheer)

Some more pictures from Dr.Salim Ali Bird Walk and the List of Birds

The Checklist:

Thattekadu Bird Sanctuary[IN (10.13, 76.687), Ernakulam, Kerala, IN]

Nov 12, 2017 7:10 AM - 11:22 AM

Protocol: Traveling

5.17 kilometer(s)

Comments: Bird Walk on the Birthday of Dr.Salim Ali . Overcast day .

Dr.Dilip KG,Vishnupriyan Kartha.K, Ginu George,Jai P. Jacob, Mathews BA, Sudhakaran K K, Shaine Vilakath, Aaromal. S, Arun P Gopi, Jis Mon, Ratheesh PR, Sudheesh M S, Shalini Binu, Anoob K A,Dr.Marak Pertin, Dr.Aajay Sekhar S.

79 species (+2 other taxa)

• Lesser Whistling-Duck 25
• Cotton Pygmy-Goose (Cotton Teal) 1
• Red Spurfowl 1
• Grey Junglefowl 3
• Little Cormorant 2
• Purple Heron 1
• Great Egret 1
• Indian Pond-Heron 4
• Crested Honey Buzzard (Oriental Honey-buzzard) 1
• Black Baza 1
• Crested Hawk-Eagle 1
• Crested Goshawk 1
• Red-wattled Lapwing 1
• Common Sandpiper 1
• Asian Emerald Dove 2
• Grey-fronted Green-Pigeon (Pompadour Green-Pigeon) 3
• Green Imperial-Pigeon 1
• Greater Coucal 2
• Common Hawk-Cuckoo 1
• Jungle Owlet 1
• Sri Lanka Frogmouth 2
• White-rumped Needletail (White-rumped Spinetail) 5 Flying overhead above the Ana Chatha Para
• Indian Swiftlet 3
• Malabar Trogon 1
• Malabar Grey Hornbill 4
• Common Kingfisher (Small Blue Kingfisher) 1
• Stork-billed Kingfisher 1
• White-throated Kingfisher 2
• Blue-bearded Bee-eater 1
• Oriental Dollarbird 1
• White-cheeked Barbet (Small Green Barbet) 1
• Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker (Indian Pygmy Woodpecker) 1
• White-bellied Woodpecker (Great Black Woodpecker) 1
• Lesser Yellownape 1
• Streak-throated Woodpecker 1
• Black-rumped Flameback (Lesser Goldenbacked Woodpecker) 1
• Heart-spotted Woodpecker 1
• Plum-headed Parakeet 1
• Malabar Parakeet (Blue-winged Parakeet) 2
• Vernal Hanging-Parrot (Indian Lorikeet) 1
• Malabar Woodshrike 1
• Ashy Woodswallow 2
• Common Iora 1
• Orange Minivet 3
• Indian Golden Oriole 1
• Black-hooded Oriole 1
• Ashy Drongo 2
• Black/Ashy Drongo 1
• Bronzed Drongo 2
• Greater Racket-tailed Drongo 4
• Black-naped Monarch 1
• Indian Paradise-Flycatcher 1
• Rufous Treepie 2
• White-bellied Treepie 1
• House Crow 5
• Large-billed Crow 4
• Red-rumped Swallow 2
• Cinereous Tit (Great Tit) 2
• Flame-throated Bulbul (Ruby-throated Bulbul) 3
• Yellow-browed Bulbul 4
• Green/Greenish Warbler 6
• Large-billed Leaf Warbler 3
• Puff-throated Babbler 4
• Asian Fairy-bluebird 2
• Asian Brown Flycatcher 1
• White-bellied Blue Flycatcher 1
• Tickell's Blue Flycatcher 1 Female
• Indian Blue Robin 1
• Orange-headed Thrush 1
• Southern Hill Myna 6
• Rosy Starling 2
• Chestnut-tailed Starling 3
• Malabar Starling (Blyth’s Starling) 2
• Common Myna 6
• Golden-fronted Leafbird (Golden-fronted Chloropsis) 2
• Pale-billed Flowerpecker 3
• Purple-rumped Sunbird 1
• Crimson-backed Sunbird (Small Sunbird) 1
• Long-billed Sunbird (Loten's Sunbird) 1
• Grey Wagtail 1
• White-browed Wagtail (Large Pied Wagtail) 2

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S40514767