Bird watchers, researchers and environmentalists from across Tamil Nadu, after taking part in a ‘first of its kind’ Conclave on ‘Declining Migratory Bird Populations in Tamil Nadu’ in Tiruppur on Sunday chose not to draw inference from the apparent flight patterns of the winged visitors.
The event organised by Nature Society of Tiruppur on the theme: Understanding the decline, strengthening conservation, and protecting habitats, witnessed experts discussing possible reasons including habitat destruction, encroachment of water bodies, and climate change.
The Conclave was necessitated by observations by bird researchers in Coimbatore, Madurai, and coastal districts about the continuous decline in the populations over the last three years.
In the Open Forum that followed a session on ‘migration pattern analysis and field reports’, Appavu Pavendhan, Species Leader, Coimbatore Nature Society, presented statistical data based on bi-annual observations at 1,000 points across the State, which indicated that the populations of of migratory and inland birds was higher in 2024 compared to 2025.
Presiding over, P. Pramod, Senior Principal Scientist, Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore, explained that variations in the paths of migratory paths take place every 10 years on an average.
While discussing about climate change as a reason, participants did not discount the possibility of the winter migration of the birds from extremely cold locations in Europe getting impacted due to the global warming. War situation in certain parts of the globe and the disturbances in water bodies at stopover spots en route were also discussed as a causative factors.
There was unanimity in the view of experts that the migratory birds choose to stay back at their winter locations at times when the climate is not extreme and is conducive for survival. There were also instances of migratory birds staying back and reproducing, Dr. Pramod said, citing the instance of flamingoes from Iran living permanently in coastal Rameswaram.
Ravindran Kamatchi, president, Nature Society of Tiruppur, said a decision was taken at the conclave to make the event an annual affair.
Published – December 14, 2025 08:01 pm IST
