Kalpetta: Volunteers will soon build up a comprehensive bird map of the biodiversity rich Wayanad district. The bird mapping effort will also be a democratic route to bird watching, recording and nature conservation.
It was in 2015 that the bird mapping project in Kerala was flagged off. Thereafter the Thrissur and Alappuzha districts successfully completed the mapping process. The mapping process at Wayanad will start on Saturday. The rainy seasons between July 16 and September 13 and the summer between January 16 and March 15 are the periods when bird watching is normally conducted.
For the purpose of mapping, the district is divided into grids of 6:6 square kilometers. This is further divided into cells of 1.1:1.1 kms. Two hundred and seven cells are zeroed in based on scientific criteria and further the bird varieties and numbers are observed and recorded for a period of one hour each. Four invasive species will also be mapped as a part of this.
The mapping project uses modern mapping equipment including binoculars, google maps, mobile applications and cameras. The survey will be conducted under the guidance of the Hume Centre for Ecology and Wildlife Biology. Bird watchers, C K Vishnudas, R N Ratheesh and Manoj Kannamparambil are heading the survey. Students of the Pookode Veterinary College and the Mananthavady campus of the Kannur University along with other passionate bird watchers will also be a part of the programme.
The task of building a bird map of the mountainous Wayanad with its forests and wildlife will be an effort in itself. Efforts are on to build maps of Wayanad, Kannur, Kozhikode and Palakkad this year. By 2020 Kerala will become India's first fully bird mapped district. For more details, contact 9447544603, 9387387023.
