Tamiraparani Water Bird Carnival

Pothigai hills or Agasthyamalai is a great treasure for southern Tamil Nadu. River Tamiraparani is one of the few perennial rivers of Tamil Nadu that originates from the hills and symbolises a rich culture, unique biodiversity and overall human wellbeing. The banks of the 128 km long river is studded with several ancient temples, countless local deities with their own legends and rituals, and an ancient civilization at Adichanallur now an archaeological site that dates back 3800years.

With time an irrigation system was established that connected Tamiraparani with several wetlands and transformed the semi-arid region of Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts into a rice bowl and banana basket of southern Tamil Nadu. These wetlands support large number of waterbirds and diverse aquatic fauna and flora apart from providing livelihood options. While some popular bird spots such as the Koonthankulam Birds Sanctuary are well known, the whole landscape can be considered an ideal habitat for diverse water birds. The river and the wetlands it supports are however threatened by water diversion, pollution, mismanagement and erratic rainfall. Birds, wetlands and people are affected by such changes but monitoring them over 4000 sq.km and 2000 tanks has been a big challenge.

Picture credit: Prasanth

The Tamiraparani Waterbird Count (TWC), a citizen led bird count by ATREE’s Agasthyamalai Community Conservation Centre (ACCC) was initiated in the year 2011. Volunteer participants came from various walks of life -Entrepreneurs, farmers, teachers, students, government and private sector employees, priests, doctors and engineers. The number of women participation has been on rise. We have had over 1500 volunteers participate in the TWC monitoring over the past 10 years and some of them have come together to form nature groups like Pearl City Nature Society (PCNS) and Nellai Nature Club (NNC).

ATREE with the financial support from Brakes India and Sundaram Finance organizing Tamiraparani Waterbird Carnival to celebrate the decade long citizenry participation and further our efforts to conserve, protect and restore the perennial river Tamiraparani and its associated wetlands for human wellbeing in a changing world”. As a part of 10th year of Tamiraparani Waterbird Count we are organizing many events like birding, competitions, workshops, seminars, exhibition etc., spread over four months’ to engage with diverse stakeholders - from experts to laymen to children. First of its events titled BIRDMAN’s Walk conducted for Florence Swainson Hr., Sec., School for the Deaf. Power Point presentation on Waterbirds was screened for the students and selected students were taken to field trip at Veinthan kulam. The students watched birds through Binocular and Spotting scope and collected field notes. This event organised on the occasion of Birdman Salim Ali’s birthday. Mr.Johnson, Principal of Florence Swainson Hr., Sec., School for the Deaf inaugurated the programme and Mr.Saravanan and Mr.Maria Antony from ATREE gave talk and trained the students in the field.