The village Kumarakom is incredibly rich in bird life. Over 180 species of birds are found here (See the Table 5 at the end of this chapter) They include local as well as migratory birds. This abundance is due to the climatic and geographical position of the region, which encourages continuous plant growth and insect activity – abundant source of avian nourishment throughout the year. The bird sanctuary, having been kept for the last 150 years also has helped protection and growth here.
The story of the bird sanctuary in Kumarakom begins in the year 1847 when Mr. Alfred George Baker started developing a vast area of Vembanad Lake shore at Kumarakom. He planted mangrove bushes and created a green belt on the lake- shore to protect his land and crops. He also kept an area of about ten acres of land with mangroves to accommodate local as well as migratory birds, coming from far off regions. No one was allowed to enter the area to disturb the birds. A permanent bird sanctuary was thus formed which may be the first of its kind in the country. The present bird sanctuary at Kumarakom is the first scientifically formed and preserved bird sanctuary in India.A mangrove belt 15 feet wide, along the back water side of the Baker Estate, was the largest mangrove belt till 1990. It remained well preserved for a long time.The largest number of species of mangroves is present at Kumarakom and three species of mangroves namely- Brugera gymnorzha, Avecennia officianalis, and Hebiseus taeliatious- are found only in this place.
The most abundant species found in the water bird count for 2003 and 2004 winter are given below:
Species 2003 2004
1. Northern Pintail Ducks: 10486 411
2. Lesser Whistling Teals: 3963 14935
3. Little Cormorants: 1229 2447
4. Whiskered Terns: 846 330
5. Pond Herons: 811 740
6. Cattle Egrets: 809 1195
7. Cotton Teals: 370 37
8. Common Teals: 300 0
9. Median Egrets: 162 292
10. Purple Herons: 106 80
11. Gargarey Teal 12 1287
12. Indian Shang 214 216
13. Purple Moorhens 40 155
During the count 66 species of water birds were found. The total number of birds counted in 2004 was 24326 whereas it was 21688 in 2003. This is an increase of 12.5 % of 2003 count. This difference is mainly due to the increase in the number of Anatidae birds (Ducks). Excluding Anatidae birds too there is a slight increase in the number of birds from 6328 in 2003 to 7203 in 2004.Four new species of birds to this area were observed during the count in 2003. These are:
1. Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis
2. Booted Eagle. Hieraaetus pennatus
3. Black-tailed Godwit. Limosa limosa
4. Small Praticole Glareola lacteal
In 2004 only one new bird species was recorded from this area. It was Rufousbacked Shrike Lanius collurie seen in the Paddy fields in Kumarakom.
In 1989 the Wild Life Advisory Board of Kerala recommended to declare the Baker estate as a bird sanctuary. The government did not yet formally do this. However a field office of the Department of Forest and Wild Life has been started functioning on the Baker estate to give protection to the birds here. The public action triggered by nature lovers’ organisations in the village has created the real safety cover for the birds.
During 1970s and 1980s the Baker estate was the only place in Kerala where the Night Herons were breeding. During 1980’s about 3000 to 4000 Night Herons were estimated breeding in the marshy areas of the estate.
This heronry was the biggest of its kind in Kerala. Later construction works for Tourist Hotels disturbed the birds. Now the trees in front of the present Taj hotel; KTDC entrance and the Forest office are the breeding area of Darters, Little Cormorants, Indian Shags and Pond Herons. Along with Night Herons, Little Egrets, Small Egrets, Large Egrets, Purple Herons, Little Cormorants, Indian Shags, Darters were also found breeding in the marshy area of the estate. White Ibis too was found roosting in the same marsh.
The number of birds in the Tourist Complex area has slightlyincreased from 96 in 2003 to 129 in 2004. This is due to the increase in the number of Cormorants, Darters, Indian Shangs and Little Cormorants. But the Night Herons have shifted to Pathiramanal reducing its number to 8 in 2004 from 23 in 2003. Tourist Complex area is now a center of Cormorants and Darters.
Table -5
Birds found in Kumarakom and adjacent areas.
Nomenclature follows Manakkadan and Pitte (2001)
Family PODICIPEDIDAE
1. Little Grebe ( Tachybaptus ruficollis) Moongakozhi
Family PELICANIDAE
2. Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis) Pullichundan Kothumbannam
Family PHALACROCORACIDAE
3. Little Cormorant (Phalacrocorax niger) Cheriya neerkakka
4. Indian Shag (Phalacrocorax fuscicollis) Kinnari Neerkakka
5. Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) Valiya neerkakka
Family ANHINGIDAE
6. Darter (Anhinga melanogaster) Cherakkozhi
Family ARDEIDAE
7. Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) Chinnamundi
8. Western Reef Egret (Egratta Gularis) Thiramundi
9. Grey Heron ( Ardea cineria ) Chara mundi
10. Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) Chaya mundi
11. Large Egret (Casmerodius alba) Perumundi
12. Median Egret (Mesophoyx intermedia) Eda mundi
13. Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) Kaali mundi
14. Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii) Kula kokku
15. Little Green Heron (Butorides striatus) Chinna kokku
16. Black crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) Pathira kokku
17. Yellow Bittern (Ixobrychus Sininsis) Manjakkocha
18. Chesunet Bittern (Ixorychus cinnamomeus) Mazha kocha
19. Black Bittern (Dupetor flavicollis )Karingocha
Family CICONIDAE
20. Asian Openbill-Stork (Anastomus oscitans)Cheraa kokkan
Family THRESKIORNITHIDAI
21. Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) Chemban Ibis
22. Oriental White Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus) Vella Ibis
23. Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia major) Karandi kokku
Family ANATIDAE
24. Lesser Whistling Teal (Dendrocygna javanica) Choolan Eranda
25. Cotton Teal (Nettapus coromandalianus) Pacha Eranda
26. Spotbill Duck (Anas poecilorhyncha) Pulli chundan Tharavu
27. Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) Soochivalan Tharavu
28. Gaganey (Anas querquedula) Vari Eranda
29. Common Teal (Anas crecca) Pattakkannan Eranda
30. Ferruginous Pochard (Aythya nyroca) Vellakkanni Eranda
Family ACCIPITRIDAE
31. Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus caeruleus) Velli eriyan
32. Black Kite (Milvus migrans) Chakkipparundu
33. Brahminy Kite (Haliastur Indus) Krishnapparundu
34. Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) Karithappi
35. Greater Grey-headed Fish Eagle (Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus) Charathalayan meen parundu
36. Shikra (Accipter badius) Shikra
37. Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis) Steppi eagle
38. Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus) Booted Eagle
Family PANDIONIDAE
39. Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) Thalipparundu
Family FALCONIDAE
40. Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) Virayan pulleh
41. Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) Kayalpullech
Family RALLIDAE
42. White brested waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus) Kulakkozhi
43. Slaty-legged Crake (Rallina eurizonoides) Thavidan Nellikkozhi
44. Blue brested Rail (Galliarallus striatus) Neelamaran Kulakkozhi
45. Baillon’s Crake ( Parzana pusilla ) Cheriya Neela Kozhi
46. Ruddy-brested Crake ( Porzana fusca) Chuvanna Nellikkozhi
47. Water cock ( Gallicrex cinerea) Theepporikkannan
48. Purple Moorhen (Porphyrio porphyrio) Nellakkozhi
49. Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) Pattakkozhi
50. Common Coot (Fulica atra) Vella Kokkan Kulakkozhi
Family JACANIDAE
51. Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus) Vallen Thamarakkozhi
52. Bronze-winged Jacana (Metopidius indicus) Nadden Thamarakkozhi
Family ROSTRATULIDAE
53. Greater Painted Snipe (Rostratula benghalensis) Kallikkada
Family CHARADRIIDAE
54. Yellow-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus malabaricus) Manjakkanni Thithiri
55. Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus) Chenkanni Thithiri
Family SCOLOPACIDAE
56. Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) Vessari vallen Chunden Kaada
57. Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) Karivallen Godvitt
58. Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) Thetti Kokkan
59. Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata) Wall Kokkan
60. Common Redshank (Tringa totanus) Chorakkali
61. Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis) Chathuppen
62. Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) Pachhakkalli
63. Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus) Karimpen Kadakokke
64. Wood Sandipiper (Tringa glareola) Pulli Kadakokke
65. Common sandpiper (Tringa hypoleucos) Neer kada
Family RECURVIROSTRIDAE
66. Blackwinged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) Pavizhakkali
Family GLAREOLIDAE
67. Small Pratincole (Glareola lactea) Chariya Mevel Kada
Family LARIDAE
68. Lesser black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) Karinchiraken Kadel kakka
69. Pallas’s Gull (Larus ichthyaetus) Valiya Kadelkakka
70. Brown-headed Gull (Larus brunnicephalus) Thavettu Thalaen Kadel kakka
71. Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) Cheriya Kadelkakka
72. Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica) Pathakokken Aallha
73. Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia) Valiya Chakokken Aallha
74. Lesser crested Tern (Sterna bengalensis) Chariya Kadel Aallha
75. Large crested Tern (Sterna bergii) Valiya Kadel Aallha
76. Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybridus) Kari Aallha
77. Saunder’s Little Tern (Sterna saundersi) Aallhachinnen
78. Sooty Tern (Sterna fuscata) Karutha Kadel Aallha
Family COLUMBIDAE
79. Blue Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) Ambala Prave
80. Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis) Arri Prave
81. Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica) Omana Prave
Family PSTTACIDAE
82. Indian Hanging-Parrot (Loriculus wernalis) Thathachinnen
83. Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri) Mothirathatha
84. Plum-headed Parakeet (Psittacula cyanocephala) Poonthatha
Family CUCULIDAE
85. Pied Crested Cuckoo (Clamator jacobinus) Kombhen Koel
86. Brain fever bind (Hierococcyx varius) Shikra Koel
87. Indian Cuckoo (Cuculus micropterus) Chakkekuppudo Koel
88. Asian Koel (Eudynamis scolopacea) Nattu Koel
89. Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis) Uppen
Family TYTONIDAE
90. Barn Owl (Tyto alba) Velli Moogha
Family STRIGIDAE
91. Collared Scops-Owl (Otus bakkamoena) Cheviyen Natheh
92. Brown Fish-Owl (Ketupa zeylonensis) Meen Kummen
93. Mottled Wood-Owl (Strix ocellata) Kallen Kozhi
94. Jungle Owlet (Glaucidium radiatm) Chemphen Natheh
95. Spotted Owlet (Athene brama) Pulli Natheh
96. Brown Hawk-Owl (Ninox scutulata) Pulli Natheh
Family APODIDAE
97. Indian House Swift (Apus affinis) Ampalam Chutty
98. Alpine Swift (Tachymarptis melba) Vella Vayaren Sharapakshi
99. Asian Palm-Swift (Cypsiurus balasiensis) Panam Koolen
Family ALCEDINIDAE
100. Small Blue Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) Chariya Meenkothi
101. Stork-billed Kingfisher (Halcyon capensis) Kakka Meenkothi
102. White brested Kingfisher (Halcyon Smyrmensis) Meenkothi Chathen
103. Black-capped Kingfisher (Halcyon pileata) Karithalayen Meenkothi
104. Peid Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) Pulli Meenkothi
Family MEROPIDAE
105. Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus) Valiya Velithatha
106. Small Bee-eater (Merops Orientalis) Cheriya Velithatha
107. Chestnut-headed Bee-eater (Merops leschenaulti) Kattu Velithatha
Family CORACIDAE
108. Indian Roller (Coracias Benghalensis) Panan kakka
Family CAPITONIDAE
109. White-cheeked Barbet (Megalaima viridis) Chinna Kutturuvan
Family PICIDAE
110. Lesser Goldenbacked Woodpecker (Dinopium benghalense) Nattumaramkothi
Family PITTIDAE
111. Indian Pitta (Pitta brachyura) Kavvi
Family ALAUDIDAE
112. Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix grisea) Karivayaren Vanamphady
113. Malabar Crested Lark (Galaridia malabarica) Kombhen Vanamphady
114. Eastern Sky Lark (Alauda gulgula) Vanamphadykkily
Family HIRUNDINIDAE
115. Common Swallow (Hirundo rustica) Vayalkkothi Kathrika
116. Red-rumped Swallow (Hirundo daurica) Varayen Kathrika
117. Wire-tailed Swallow (Hirundo Smithii) Kampyvallen Kathrikakkilly
118. Streak-throated Swallow (Hirundo fluvicola)
119. House Swallow (Hirundo tahitica) Kana Kathrika
Family MOTACILLIDAE
120. Forest Wagtail (Dendronanthus indica) Kattuvallukulukki
121. White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) Vella Valu Kulukki
122. Large Pied Wagtail (Motacilla madera sparensis) Valukulukki Pakshi
123. Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citriola) Manjhavalukulukki
124. Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava) Manjhavalukulukki
125. Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) Vazhikulukki
126. Paddyfield Pipit (Anthus rufulus) Vayal Varamphen
Family CAMPEPHAGIDAE
127. Large Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina Macei) Charappooden
128. Backheaded Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina melanoptera) Karinthoppy
129. Small Minivet (Pericrocotus cinnamomeus) Theechinnen
130. Common Woodshrike (Tephrodornis pondicerianus) Asurathan
Family PYCNONOTIDAE
131. Red whiskered Bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus) Erattathalachi Bulbul
132. Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer) Nattu Bulbul
Family IRENIDAE
133. Jerdons Chloropsis (Chloropsis cochinchinensis) Elakkilly
134. Common Iora (Aegithina tiphia) Ayora
Family LANIDAE
135. Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus) Thaviden Shrike
136. Rufousbacked Shrike (Lanius collurio) Charakutten
Family TURDINAE
137. Orange-headed Thrush (Zoothera citrina) Kurikannen Kattupulleh
138. Oriental magpie-Robin (Copsychus saularis) Mannathipulleh
139. Indian Robin (Saxocoloides fulicata) Kalmannathi
140. Common Stone Chat (Saxicola torquata) Kalleakily
Family TIMALIINAE
141. White Headed Babbler (Turdoidus affinis) Poothan keeri
142. Jungle Babbler (Turdoidus striatus) Karielakkilly
Family SYLVIINAE
143. Franklin’s Prinia (Prinia hodgsonii) Thalykkuruvi
144. Streaked Fantail-Warbler (Cisticola juncidis) Pothapotten
145. Ashy Prinia (Prinia socialis) Kathirvallen Kuruvi
146. Plain Prinia (Prinia inornata) Vayel Kuruvi
147. Blyth’s Reed-Warbler (Acrocephalus dumetorum) Etta polyppen
148. Indian Great Reed-Warbler (Acrocephalus stentoreus) Kaithakkallen
149. Common Tailor Bird (Orthotomus sutorius) Thunnaren
150. Greenish Leaf-Warbler (Philloscopus trochiloides) Podykkuruvi
Family MUSCICAPINAE
151. Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica) Thavittu Patta pidiyen
Family MONARCHINAE
152. Asian Paradise-Flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradisi) Nakhamohan
Family RHIPIDURINAE
153. White-browed Fantail-Flycatcher (Rhipidura aureola) Aattakkaren
Family PARIDAE
154. Great Tit (Parus major) Charamarapotten
Family DICAEIDAE
155. Tickell’s Flowerpecker (Dicaeum erythrorhynchos) Ithikannikkuruvi
Family NECTARINIDAE
156. Purple-rumped Sunbird (Nectatinia zeylonica) Manjhathenkili
157. Purple Sunbird (Nectarinia asiatica) Karuppentheankilli
158. Loten’s Sunbird (Nectarinia lotenia) Valiyatheankilli
Family ESTRILDIDAE
159. White-rumped Munia (Lonchura striata) Aattakkaruppen
160. Spotted Munia (Lonchura punctulata) Chutty Aatta
161. Black-headed Munia (Lonchura malacca) Aattachembhen
Family PASSERIDAE
162. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) Anghadykkuruvi
163. Yellow-throated Sparrow (Petronia xanthocollis) Manjathaly kuruvi
Family PLOCEINAE
164. Baya Weaver (ploceus philippinus) Aattakkuruvi
165. Streaked Weaver (Ploceus manyar) Kayal Aatta
Family STURNIDAE
166. Grey-headed Starling (Sturnus malabaricus) Charathala kaali
167. Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) Nattumyna
168. Jungle Myna (Acridotheres fuscus) Kinnari Myna
169. Rosy Starling (Sturnus roseus) Rose Myna
170. Brahminy Starling (Sturnus pagodarum) Karithalachi Kally
Family ORIOLIDAE
171. Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus) Manjakily
172. Black-naped Oriole (Oriolus chinensis) Cheena Manjakilly
173. Black-headed Oriole (Oriolus xanthornus) Manjakkaruppen
Family DICRURIDAE
174. Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus) Kakkathampuratti
175. Greater Racket-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus) Kaadumuzhakki
Family ARTAMIDAE
176. Ashy Woodswallow (Artamus fuscus) Ennakkatheven
Family CORVIDAE
177. Indian Tree Pie (Dendrocitta vagabunda) Ollenjally
178. House Crow (Corvus splendens) Kavathikakka
179. Jungle Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos) Balykakka
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