Sundarbans fest: 9k sightings, rise in bird count despite rain

Kolkata: Despite bad weather, birders, conservationists and foresters managed to sight 8,886 birds — a 76% jump from 5,045 last year — during the two-day trail under second bird festival in the Indian Sundarbans that ended on Saturday. However, the number of species sighted — 135 — is lower than last year’s 145. Experts have attributed this to a variety of factors, including bad weather and fewer wader or shore birds at many mudflats, among others.Six teams covered 4,000 square kilometres under both the tiger reserve and South 24 Parganas divisions on Jan 18 and 19. The final data was collated on Saturday. But experts like state wildlife advisory board member, Animesh Bose — one of the resource persons — have called for scientific research works, particularly for the mudflats and their quality, after fewer sightings of mudflat birds this winter over last year’s — 34 species of waders compared to 42 last year. “This apart, at least 11 species of raptors, 84 species of forest birds — six more than last year’s — and six species of water fowls were spotted,” said a senior forest department official. Two species, as per sources, are yet to be identified. According to ZSI research associate Amitava Majumder, another resource person, waders in large numbers were missing from many mudflats . Resource person Arjan Basu Roy of Nature Mates voiced similar concern. The maximum number of species were spotted in core area. “While around 79 species were spotted in core zone, 74 were spotted in buffer and around 42 species outside protected areas,” said another official. Fourteen threatened species (as per State of India’s Birds report, 2023) seen included Eurasian curlew, brown-winged kingfisher, black-capped kingfisher, etc.