Sundarbans fest: At 32k sightings & 154 species, bird count goes up
Times of India | 28 January 2025
12 Kolkata: Despite the missing chill, birders, conservationists and foresters managed to sight close to 32,000 birds — a jump of over 250% from 8,886 last year — during the four-day trail under the third bird festival in the Indian Sundarbans that ended on Sunday.
The number of species sighted — 154 — too is higher than last year's 135.
Experts have attributed this to a variety of factors, including a healthy management, particularly of the mudflats.
Six teams with 24 participants covered 4,000 square kilometres under both the tiger reserve and South 24 Parganas divisions on Jan 22, 23, 24 and 25. The summary report was released after a panel discussion on Jan 26.
Some of the key species sighted include goliath heron and buffy fish owl. A nest of white-bellied sea eagle with three chicks, too, was found inside one of the ranges of the tiger reserve.
Arjan Basu Roy of Nature Mates, a resource person of the exercise, said management of the mudflats was very good. "There were no fishing activities near them. There was also no sign of any form of pollution like plastics or fishing nets on them," he added.
Number of mudflat bird species sighted this year, too, has risen to 45 from 34 last year. "This apart, at least 8 species of raptors, 91 species of forest birds — 7 more than last year's — and three species of waterfowls were spotted," said a forest dept official.
According to ZSI research associate Amitava Majumder, another resource person, "The inputs and suggestions that we had given during the first two editions of the festival were followed and implemented. This reflected on the management of the mudflats."
Of the total 154 species sighted, 51 are migratory and 103 are resident. Of them, 12 are threatened species. Majumder said that even though this is not the season of mangrove pitta, they got quite a few calls of the bird during the exercise.
The maximum number of species – 108 – were sighted in Matla range, followed by 95 in Kalas, 81 in National Park west, 73 in Basirhat, 70 in National Park east and 64 in Sajnekhali.
According to Basu Roy, some areas, which were the least discussed about in terms of sightings, threw up a good number of birds. "But in some areas, where there was no disturbance, sightings were fewer. For example, despite being a core area, only 70 species were sighted in National Park east," he said, adding that areas with human presence, though vulnerable, offer some kind of protection, too, to the birds.