Ajaysekher.net » Mangalavanam

Kochi: Biodivercity of Kerala

Ajay — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 10:52:09 +0000

Where sky and sea meet: Kochi city from the back waters

Migrants are back in Mangalavanam, the green mangroved bird sanctuary at the heart of Kochi city. Last Thursday (18 Nov. 2010) in the late afternoon I got a chance to step into this cool retreat. From the top of the watch tower I could see a lot of waders wandering around on the mud flats exposed by low tide.

Green Shank in Mangalavanam, Kochi

They were shanks: Green shanks and Red Shanks. There were more than eight individuals altogether. I was surprised to see a lonely Pompadour Green Pigeon close to the tree hut. Two Grey Herons flew across the water body with typical sound gestures. A Brown Crake was also wading in the muddy vegetation. A Magpie Robin was resting on the stilted roots of the mangrove.

Common Red Shank in Mangalavanam, Kochi

A few Little Egrets and a lonesome Dabchick were also seen in water. The forest guards informed me that Paradise Flycatcher is around but unfortunately the Pitta is absent from the compound now.

Pompadour Green Pigeon, Mangalavanam, Kochi

Whiskered-Tern, Marine Drive, Kochi

Black-winged Stilts of Vypin Mangroves

Ajay — Fri, 28 May 2010 11:19:48 +0000

Black-winged Stilt: A solitary reaper in the ruined Mangroves

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.

Indian Pitta in Mangalavanam Mangroves

A Red Crab in the Mangroves at Mangalavanam

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.

Mangrove Blossoms in Vypin

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.

A Fiddler Crab among Mangrove flowers

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.

Country-boats and Chinese fishing nets of Vypin

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.

Beckoning Lagoons: P S Devarajan leading the voyage

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.

Degree of Damage: Hectares of Mangroves slashed and burned down for LNG terminals

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.

Mouth of Kochi Estuary:View from southern tip of Vypin

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.

Stilt with its pinkish long legs at Vypin

A Red Crab among the breething roots of Mangroves

Green-winged Stilts: Mangroves of Kochi

Devastated Mangrove Heartland for LNG Terminal

New Beginning: Mangrove Sapling

Indian Pitta of Mangalavanam

Ajay — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 12:18:19 +0000

A Unique Ecosystem: Mangroves of Mangalavanam

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.

Atop the Green Mangroves: A view from Watchtower

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.

Indian Pitta in Mangalavanam, locally called 'Kaavi'

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.