ശാന്തിവനത്തിലെ പക്ഷികൾ

Birds of Santhivanam




പാരിസ്ഥിതികവും ചരിത്രപരവുമായി ഏറെ പ്രാധാന്യമുള്ള ശാന്തിവനത്തെ സംരക്ഷിക്കുന്നതിനായി ഇടപെടുക

Ernakulam Heronry Survey 2019

Dear all,

In this time of severe, all around loss of biodiversity and the climate change, it is imperative that we try to preserve whatever habitat and , life birds such as waterbirds and herons who provide enormous ecosystem services to the community.

With an aim to do something in this direction we intend to conduct the survey of Heronries in Ernakulam district this year onward.
Towards this end a preliminary meeting is proposed to be held at 5 pm, at Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary (behind Kerala Highcourt) on Satureday 13th April 2019.

All nature enthusiasts and in fact anybody  with interest and are willing willing to volunteer for this  survey are ivited to participate in the meeting wherein more information and rationale will be shared and the strategy to achieve this objective will be discussed.

Warm Regards,

Vishnupriyan Kartha.K
Secretary
CNHS
9446437410(WhatsApp)


Click here for the Report in New Indian Express

An Appeal to the Management of HMT Ltd., Kalamassery Unit for protecting the Wooded areas of HMT Campus

Sri.S.Balamurugesan
General Technical Manager
HMT Limited,
Machine Tools Division,
HMT Colony P.O.
Kalamassery 683 503,
Ernakulam Dist.



Dear Sir,

Sub:-Film shooting at HMT Estate, Kalamassery- Disturbances to the area caused by the Film Unit.Reg



At the outset, we wish to thank you and the company for maintaining excellent green cover in your Kalamassery estate which comprise of diverse habitats like evergreen forests, shrub forests, grass lands, wetlands etc. Because of such a nature friendly eco system maintained by the company around 200 species of birds have been recorded by researchers and bird watchers from Kalamassery .The area is also rich in other flora and fauna. This green cover coupled with wet lands has also protected the water table of Kalamassery from going down and in fact there are wells in Kalamassery which supply drinking water to Cochin City. This has also helped in maintaining a lower atmospheric  temperature level in Kalamassery.The Kerala Forest Department has also recognized the bird diversity of Kalamasssery by releasing a poster ) mentioning 191 species of birds, including many endangered species.



In this context, we note with concern that some areas of the estate has been let out for film shooting and the people working for putting up sets for the film are doing so with total disregard for environment, cutting down full grown trees, using road rollers to level the terrain, where many tree dwelling and ground feeding birds are active. As per Indian Wild life protection act 1972 most of the birds are listed in under scheduled category and any offence towards listed species, habitat and nest is considered as hunting and punishable even if it occurs in a private land. It is the duty of citizens to bring to the notice of authorities any violation. However when some of our volunteers tried to point out the damage to the workers there, the retort was that they will fire crackers to drive the birds away or light fires and our volunteers cannot question.



Further there has been many wild fires in HMT Estate in recent time necessitating intervention of Fire force and people have to exercise caution while working there. However these film set workers have been smoking recklessly and also using electric cutting tools with sparks flying.



We also understand that these particular film unit has come to your company after they were denied permission by Forest Department in another area.



In view of the above we request your good selves to prevail upon these film people to exercise restraint and to be cautious in working this bio diversity hot point.



We once again thank you for your corporate social responsibility contribution in maintaining such a green and diverse campus, which is great benefit to the public at large.



Warm Regards,


Yours Sincerely,



Vishnupriyan Kartha.K
Secretary
Cochin Natural History Society
Reg.No.: ER 18/10 of 2010
Regd. Office:
(Klathil) Revathi Bhavan, Edathala P O, ALUVA-683561.
Telephone No.: 9446437410
e-Mail:-cochinnaturalhistorysociety@gmail.com

Facebook Page :-     https://www.facebook.com/CochinNHS/

Blog :-                       http://cochinnaturalhistorysociety.blogspot.in/

Kerala Bird Race 2018- Report and Pictures

The HSBC Kerala Bird Race 2018 was held in Kochi and surrounding areas on 30th December 2018.Birdwatchers and Nature enthusiasts from Ernakulam, Thrissur, Alappuzha, Malappuram, Idukki and even Tamilnadu actively took part in the annual event which is in its 12th year running. This year a total of 247 species of birds were recorded as opposed to 200 species last year.10740 individual birds were encountered as opposed to 5920 last year.

The birds sighted include 14 species of raptors (Greater Spotted Eagle, Rufous Bellied Eagle, Crested Goshawk, Crested Honey Buzzard etc.,) 7 species of woodpeckers including Greater Flameback. Largest number of a species sighted was 1000 Lesser Whistling Duck.

The highlight of the event (Bird of the Day) was sighting of a rare Eastern Orphean Warbler (Sylvia crassirostris) at Kalappara near Thattekkad, by Ginu George.

This is only the second sighting from Ernakulam. The previous sighting was in 2007.

Other highlights The area covered during the Bird Race were the wetlands of Ernakulam , Thrissur and northern end of Alappuzha, Eastern hilly region of Ernakulam and bordering Idukki ,

Various teams o birders were guided by Anoop C R, Basil Peter,Dr.Dilip K G Ginu George Mukundan K, Ijas Muhammed , Premchand Reghuvaran Manoj P G Vishnupriyan Kartha. K Prasanth T S ,Manoj K etc.,

Kerala Bird Race 2018

India Bird Races 2018 – 19 Kerala – Kochi 

on 30th December 2018 

to enjoy birds … and learn from their ways

It is time for another rendezvous with birds of and around urban India!

The 12th Kerala Bird Race will be held in Kochi on Sunday, 30th December 2018.

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC), along with Kerala’s enthusiastic birding community (Cochin Natural History Society,Centre For Wildlife Studies, Kerala Agricutural University, Kole Birders and many others), are organizing this unique programme in and around the city. The all-India coordinator for the India BirdRaces is The Yuhina Canopy, while UWM is the Facilitating Partner.

In an interesting development this year, we have eBird India as well as Bird Count India as the partners to share knowledge and help promote a love and appreciation for observing birds in an organized manner.

Also, this year, participants and/or teams have the option of doing a half day bird-watch up to about 1 pm or lunch break, and then come refreshed for the evening get-together.

In an increasingly urbanizing world, with more and more people residing in urban areas, these human-influenced landscapes of town and city and their immediately impacted surroundings have become another habitat. Birds are often the foremost attraction for anyone interested in exploring the natural world.

The India BirdRaces have been conceptualized to help look at the avifauna (bird life) of these urban areas and their surrounding wealth of habitats and serve to popularize bird-watching and help lead to a better understanding of other aspects of our biodiversity and environment.
Simple, enjoyable and interactive, these dawn to dusk events allow teams of birding enthusiasts spend a day birding in and around a city, up to 50 km or so around the urban perimeters.
This is followed by an exciting, interactive evening get-together where all participants, from children to rank beginners get an opportunity to interact with some of the finest and most experienced birders in that city, including special invitees. There is a Bird-of-the-Day team prize. . With nearly 3000 people collectively partaking across more than a dozen Indian cities between December and early-March, the India BirdRaces are possibly the greatest birding event.

In recent years, the India BirdRaces have become a Non-Competitive event, with no winning teams based on tallies, but yet the event has been retained as a Race to try spot as many birds and explore every site in and around a city. Invaluable data has been gathered and which reflects all that is good and bad about how our urban areas are impacting the natural scheme of things.
Despite its rules, there is a fun element to this exercise, as also the team spirit and participation that comes into focus here. A day well spent for the cause of birds and urban environment!

All people with interest in Nature are encouraged to participate.
There will be a briefing Session at 5pm on 28th December 2018 for the event at  Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary for the participants.

A related Post is here on Kole Birders Community Page also

For participation please contact:-


Vishnupriyan Kartha. K
9446437410

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.