Tamil Nadu Revamps State Bird Authority to Incorporate Wetland Authority

Chennai, Dec 18 (NationPress) The government of Tamil Nadu has restructured the State Bird Authority by incorporating the Tamil Nadu Wetland Authority and the Advanced Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC).

The State Bird Authority, initially established in 2023, has the responsibility of overseeing and enhancing bird sanctuaries, improving nesting habitats for birds, and promoting ecotourism initiatives.

According to the government's recent modification to its order dated June 21, 2023, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Director of AIWC, along with the Member Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Wetland Authority, have been appointed as members of the Authority.

Chaired by the Secretary of Environment, Climate Change, and Forests, the Authority now includes 11 members, comprising representatives from various departments such as Revenue and Disaster Management, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Public Works, and the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation.

Earlier this year, the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) was also included as a member.

Tamil Nadu is home to 18 bird sanctuaries, including 14 Ramsar sites, and has witnessed an increase in the arrival of migratory birds this year, attributed to significant rainfall during the northeast monsoon.

Migratory species such as little stints, flamingos, painted storks, pelicans, crab plovers, Heuglin’s gulls, marsh sandpipers, curlew sandpipers, great knots, red knots, and little egrets have been observed. Most of these are aquatic birds, particularly waders.

In the Vedaranyam taluk, which has experienced moderate rainfall in recent weeks, the influx of migratory birds has improved compared to last year, which saw a decrease in bird sightings during the annual census due to lower rainfall.

Rajesh Kannan, a passionate bird watcher, informed IANS, “The growing number of migratory birds arriving in recent weeks is a positive indicator of a thriving migration season. The rainfall near the sanctuary remains moderate, which is promising.”

Researchers indicate that bird visits could further enhance by minimizing human interference in water bodies adjacent to sanctuaries.

Strategies such as restricting backwater fishing during the migration period, along with compensating local communities' livelihoods, are under consideration.

Simultaneously, the Forest Department has heightened patrolling in villages surrounding sanctuaries to prevent poaching, which threatens migratory birds.

Officials confirmed that patrols are being conducted consistently in areas with high bird sightings to deter hunting.