Avian population soars on good rains

Trichy: The synchronized bird census conducted by the forest department for 2025-26 in Trichy district has registered an increase in the total number of birds as well as variety of species compared to the previous year.As many as 121 wetland species comprising 11,113 individual birds, and 126 terrestrial bird species comprising 3,848 individuals have been recorded. In comparison, the 2024-2025 bird arrival season recorded 54 wetland species with 8,425 individuals and 117 terrestrial bird species with 3,315 individuals.The bird census was held in three phases on the directions of district forest officer S Krithiga. Wetland birds were surveyed in Dec 2025, while terrestrial birds and raptors were counted in Feb 2026.

The teams surveyed 20 wetland sites including tanks such as Keerambur, Alathidaiyanpatti, Sikathambur, Thuraiyur, Thiruthalaiyur, Koothappar, Kiliyur, Thalakulam, Kattayankulam, Thayanur, and Krishnasamuthram.

Among the notable sightings were resident birds like Little Grebe, Oriental Darter, Indian Cormorant, Little Cormorant, and Pheasant-tailed Jacana. These are commonly found year-round in wetlands of Trichy and surrounding areas.

The primarily migratory or winter visitor birds observed included Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Garganey, Whiskered Tern, Blue-winged Teal, Spoonbill (likely Eurasian Spoonbill), Flamingo (Greater Flamingo), Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Shrike, and Wagtail. These birds migrate to the region during winter from various parts of the country and the higher Himalayas as well as from distant areas such as Europe, Central Asia and Africa.The marked increase in migratory wetland birds stood out as one of the key highlights of the census. The number of species rose from 12 to 71, and their individual count jumped from 790 to 4,508. The higher counts were attributed to favourable conditions, including good rainfall and abundant water in the wetlands, which benefited both resident and migratory birds. “The overall health of wetlands improved before and during the bird arrival season from 2025 to 2026,” said a forest department official.Sources said many nonprofit organizations are actively removing invasive Prosopis juliflora growths near and around water bodies, enhancing water availability and overall habitat quality in the wetlands, said officials and experts.This year, the forest department introduced a separate synchronous survey for raptor birds, which are mainly terrestrial, to assess their population levels and support ecological conservation. In Trichy, around 15 raptor species with 125 individuals were recorded across 14 blocks. Tamil Nadu govt has established Tamil Nadu Raptor Research Foundation (TNRRF) under Advanced Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC) to protect raptors through systematic and continuous surveys.Researchers and officials indicated that similar bird numbers may not occur in the upcoming bird arrival season from October to March as the district is turning drier due to reduced rainfall, possibly due to El Niño influences.