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Monsoon failure drives birds from sanctuary

 

 As the district failed to get adequate rainfall since 2009, crop failure has become a part of farmers’ life. Consequently, cultivable lands across the district are gradually being converted into residential plots and commercial zones.

The successive monsoon failures in Tirunelveli district have taken its toll at Koonthankulam, as the birds have started leaving the sanctuary a bit early this year. The Koonthankulam and Kadankulam tanks are almost dry.

As the district failed to get adequate rainfall since 2009, crop failure has become a part of farmers’ life. Consequently, cultivable lands across the district are gradually being converted into residential plots and commercial zones.

While the urban and semi-urban areas have been helplessly witnessing this dangerous situation for the past few years, what is happening on the outskirts is also not heartening. The winged visitors have left the sanctuary in July against the normal practice of leaving the haven in mid-August.

The only reason behind this unusual trend is monsoon failure since 2009 that has ultimately affected the storage level in the Koonthankulam and Kaadankulam tanks, which feed the domestic and migratory birds.

“Though there were 3,442 nests atop acacia trees at Koonthankulam, the birds now go up to Vijayanarayanam tank as the tanks here are almost dry and the water has become green, which is not so conducive for fishes,” says birdwatcher S. Paulpandi of Koonthankulam, who is taking care of the birds, particularly the chicks.

Birds dying

Another shocking feature is that birds’ carcasses can be seen at several places of the tanks’ dry bed.

“This is also due to the absence of water in the tank… If the tank has adequate water, the chicks, whenever they fall from their nests, can swim and escape,” explains Mr. Paulpandi.

Source: The Hindu, 9th July 2012