Survey finds 198 bird species in Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary

MADURAI: The first ever bird survey carried out in Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary has recorded 198 bird species, including 26 migratory bird species.

Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, sharing its boundaries with Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Sanctuary and Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala, is rich in flora and fauna.

The flora in the sanctuary ranges from shrub forest to evergreen forest. The sanctuary hosts variety of birds, mammals, reptiles and butterflies.

Expert bird watchers conducted the survey on November 15 and 16. They covered the entire wildlife sanctuary by setting up 14 campsites.

The survey recorded 172 resident species. Red whiskered bulbul was seen in all the 14 camp areas followed closely by grey jungle fowl in 12 camp sites and spotted dove, southern coucal, white-cheeked barbet and purple-rumped sunbird in 11 sectors.

Not common but spotted in only one camp area were paddy field warbler, black and orange flycatcher, broad-tailed grass warbler, Indian rufous babbler, black-headed babbler, Indian blue robin, Nilgiri pipit, speckled piculet, rufous woodpecker, Malabar troon, Nilgiri wood-pigeon, grey - fronted green pigeon.

The most common migratory birds recorded in the survey were grey wagtail, Asian paradise flycatcher and greenish leaf warbler and common swallow.

The most uncommon migratory bird was the Indian blue robin in Vellimalai sector, the survey revealed.

A remarkable sighting was a flock of 23 great hornbill which were recorded near Arisipaarai. The survey also recorded nocturnal bird species, bird of prey, species endemic only to the Western Ghats and vulnerable and threatened species under International Union for Conservation of Nature.