Birders cry foul over film shoots

KOCHI

: A week ago birding enthusiasts spotted a Ruddy shelduck at

Kadamakkudy

, a string of

backwater islands

, known for pokkali farming and

aquaculture

.


It was a heart-warming find because Ruddy shelduck, known as Brahminy duck in India, has been rarely spotted in South India.

“The winged winter visitor along with many other birds, which make the brackish lake their home, might stop considering the scenic islands as a safe migratory haven if steps were not taken to protect their peace,” said Cochin Natural History Society (CNHS) secretary Vishnu Priyan.

The immediate cause of concern is the increase in number of film

shoots

being held in the area.

“They come in large groups, are noisy and end up disturbing the surroundings. Sometimes, there is also food waste,” said Priyan.

Bird watchers were delighted when they spotted several rare birds in the recent months.

“As many as 196 species of birds have been spotted in the area as per eBird data,” said Priyan.

Birders had spotted several species such as Red knot, Pallas grasshopper warbler, European roller, Pectoral sandpiper, Stejneger’s stonechat and Black-headed bunting in the area recently.

The film shoot has also breached the peace of people living in the vicinity and complaints have been filed with the local body.

“I got a complaint from a family that they couldn’t sleep all night because of noisy film shoots. They also said children could not study because of the noise. I had complained orally to the local police station,” said Kadamakkudy panchayat president Shalini Babu.

According to her, permission for film shooting should be taken by filmmakers from the local body after paying the required fee for three days. But many stay back for more than three days. “We are thinking of putting up a board prohibiting illegal film shoots in the area,” she said.