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Black-winged Stilts of Vypin Mangroves

// May 28th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // Culture and Ecology

The lush green mangroves of Cochin, especially the green belt around the north coast at the mouth of the harbor and the lagoons and archipelago formations in the backwaters that run up to Mangalavanam have remained as the lungs and kidneys of this unique estuary and ecosystem that is also called the queen of Arabian Sea.

This green cover protected the land and its people for hundreds of years from tidal waves and Tsunamis.  The crabs, shrimps, lobsters and prawn provided the people with healthy delicacies.  The mangroves are the breeding grounds of fish and a range of marine life.

Even after large scale destruction done for reclamation and urbanization in the city suburbs the Mangroves of Vypin island that forms the northern coast of the estuary has been giving shelter and asylum to marine biodiversity and endangered species that were pushed to the very periphery by development.

Unfortunately the recent LNG and Petroleum tanks and terminals built at the heartland of the mangrove ecosystem in Vypin has destroyed the vegetation in a mass scale.

I visited the location with P S Devarajan, an independent activist from Vypin in mid May 2010.  Big roads and mud filled reclamations and huge tanks and buildings including gigantic compound walls are chocking this fragile habitat.

It is home to many varieties of mangroves and associated flora and fauna.  Devarajan who is born and brought up near this green paradise remembers his childhood expeditions and sojourns into the shaded mystery and bounty of the mangroves.

He narrates bird and animal encounters in the past.  We surveyed the backwaters near the mouth of the estuary on a country-boat provided by local children and found many species of fish and crustaceans.  We could also see a few otters that were plenty in the past according to the kids who lead us.

Apart from a few Egrets and Cormorants, birds were virtually absent in the mangrove relics.  As we were leaving the devastated landscape in disgust a flight of birds suddenly landed down out of the blue.  The long held back pinkish legs revealed their true identity.  It was a small flock of Black-winged Stilts.  They were desperately seeking some food in the ruins of the mangrove lagoons.

Indian Pitta of Mangalavanam

// March 6th, 2010 // No Comments » // Eco Watch

Saturday, 6 March 2010:   After a lot of things done on a hot summer day in and around the city I reached the green and cool Mangroves of Mangalavanam for the first time this year as the sun was dipping down into the Arabian sea, at the mouth of the harbour in Kochi.  Seeing the high tide I was a bit disappointed that I missed the waders and shore birds.  I climbed up the wooden watchtower and waited a while in vain.  The always welcoming forest guards Raju and Jayan told me that the Night Herons who were here for the past many years had vanished!  Plenty of giant bats are now colonizing the rain trees behind the forest station.  Raju also informed me that he is regularly watching a Pitta in the thickets at dusk.

I decided to wait for the darkness to fall and meet the rare winter visitor, Kaavi (Thuthu Chuvapan Kaavi, literally means Red vented Kavi in Malayalam) to appear.  It is also called the Six ‘O clock Bird as it appears after sunset.  During the silent meandering through the walkways under the mangroves I was lucky to spot a forest wagtail, an orange headed thrush, a Paradise Flycatcher (Male, Rufus morph) and a few water hens.

Raju also told me that he has also sighted a Great Tit in the sanctuary recently and White Ibises, Stilts and Shanks are also regularly visiting the mud banks during low tide.  I remember reporting about Stilts and Shanks last year at the same time.  At around 6.20 pm we heard a distinct resonant call and Jayan helped me to sight the bird sitting on a low twig.

It was a beautiful Indian Pitta with its long white eye brow, green upper and light brown underparts; of course with a reddish vent!  I managed to take a few snaps in the dark.  I was really excited to see the bird that close and take the image.  After admiring the cute little bird for a while we retreated silently without disturbing it.

The Kerala Forest Department and the dedicated Staff here must be appreciated for their good work of conservation in the midst of a booming city like Kochi.  Recently there was an outbreak of wildfire near the old railway compound.  Now there is a talk about a Medical College near the sanctuary.  The threats and challenges for conservation are on the increase day by day and the brilliant bio diversity of Mangalavanam prompts us for protecting it, for all of us and for posterity.