EDITOR’S NOTE
“Throughout 2023, the Salem Ornithological Foundation (SOF) has achieved significant progress in documenting biodiversity, educating the public, and conserving birds with the help of other organizations. July to September’s major updates focus on community engagement, educational initiatives, rare bird sightings, and ongoing field research. SOF is happy to work on a new project titled “Systematic Bird Monitoring and Biodiversity Documentation at Wetlands under Project Nanneer funded by the Murugappa Groups.” – Ganeshwar S V
SYSTEMATIC BIRD MONITORING AT MANIVILUNDHAN OLD TANK
Salem Ornithological Foundation has been working on Systematic Bird Monitoring and Biodiversity Documentation at Manivilundhan Old Tank since January 2023 funded by ACSEN Foundation. The results for July to September are given below. To see the other forms of biodiversity documented at the lake, please click here.
| S.No | Name of the Lake | Total no. of species recorded & eBird Report | ||
| July | August | September | ||
| 1 | Manivilundhan Old Tank | 75 | 84 | 78 |
| https://ebird.org/india/tripreport/110009 | https://ebird.org/india/tripreport/110010 | https://ebird.org/india/tripreport/110011 | ||
SYSTEMATIC BIRD MONITORING AND BIODIVERSITY DOCUMENTATION AT WETLANDS UNDER PROJECT NANNEER
Salem Ornithological Foundation has been currently working on Project Nanneer by A.M.M Foundation. The Systematic Bird Monitoring and Biodiversity Documentation at five wetlands under Project Nanneer has been carried out since June 2023. The results for July to September are given below. To see the other forms of biodiversity documented at these five wetlands, click here.
| S.No | Name of the Kanmai | Total no. of bird species recorded & eBird Report | ||
| July | August | September | ||
| 1 | Vadakudipatti | 73 | 68 | 70 |
| 2 | Chettiyan | 60 | 52 | 50 |
| 3 | Kanappettai | 43 | 58 | 57 |
| 4 | Panangudi | 67 | 74 | 61 |
| 5 | Oonaiyur | 62 | 72 | 70 |
| https://ebird.org/india/tripreport/142654 | https://ebird.org/india/tripreport/150162 | https://ebird.org/india/tripreport/154643 | ||
OUTREACH
On 02 August 2023, Angeline Mano M, Ganeshwar S V, Kalaiselvan V, Krishnamoorthy, and Senthil Kumar S from Salem Ornithological Foundation conducted a nature walk as a part of the teacher training program at Yercaud organized by the DIET Perambalur and coordinated by DIET, Salem. A total of 45 teachers across Tamil Nadu participated in the nature walk. A session on Citizen science programs and How to use eBird was conducted by Ganeshwar S V.
ORNISCHOOL (JULY – AUGUST)
As a part of Education and Public Engagement, Angeline Mano M conducted the OrniSchool programs (SOF’s Nature Education Program) at 15 Government schools in Thalaivasal Taluk from July to August 2023. A PowerPoint presentation about bird watching and the uses of birds was displayed followed by an explanation. All the students were engaged in Flashcard games and posters from Early Bird.
| S.No | School Name | No. of participants |
| 1 | Panchayat Union Primary School, Samberi | 7 |
| 2 | Panchayat Union Primary School, Kattukottai Pudur | 30 |
| 3 | Panchayat Union Primary School, Vadachennimalai | 26 |
| 4 | Panchayat Union Middle School, Sarvoy | 60 |
| 5 | Panchayat Union Primary School, Vadakumarai | 54 |
| 6 | Panchayat Union Primary School, Thenkumarai | 30 |
| 7 | Panchayat Union Middle School, Vadakumarai | 73 |
| 8 | Panchayat Union Primary School, Sathapadi | 32 |
| 9 | Panchayat Union Middle School, Punalvasal | 90 |
| 10 | Panchayat Union Primary School, Sitheri Palakkadu | 12 |
| 11 | Panchayat Union Primary School, Chinnapunalvasal | 16 |
| 12 | Panchayat Union Primary School, Manivilundhan Colony | 20 |
| 13 | Panchayat Union Primary School, Manivilundhan North | 62 |
| 14 | Panchayat Union Primary School, Manivilundhan South | 19 |
| 15 | Panchayat Union Middle School, Manivilundhan North | 41 |
ORNISCHOOL (SEPTEMBER)
As a part of Education and Public Engagement, Angeline Mano M conducted the OrniSchool programs (SOF’s Nature Education Program) at 16 Government schools in Thalaivasal Taluk IN September 2023. A PowerPoint presentation about bird watching and the uses of birds was displayed followed by an explanation. All the students were engaged in Flashcard games and posters from Early Bird.
| S.No | School Name | No. of participants |
| 1 | Panchayat Union Primary School, Deviyakurichi | 64 |
| 2 | Panchayat Union Primary School,Sarvoy Pudur | 68 |
| 3 | Panchayat Union Primary School,Mummudi | 42 |
| 4 | Panchayat Union Primary School, Manivilundhan North Pudur | 50 |
| 5 | Panchayat Union Middle School, Manivilundhan North Pudur | 47 |
| 6 | Panchayat Union Primary School, Sadhasivapuram | 56 |
| 7 | Panchayat Union Primary School, Ramanujapuram | 10 |
| 8 | Panchayat Union Primary School, Ramasheshapuram | 11 |
| 9 | Panchayat Union Primary School,Thalaivasal | 53 |
| 10 | Panchayat Union Primary School,Nathakarai | 33 |
| 11 | Panchayat Union Primary School,Pattuthurai | 56 |
| 12 | Panchayat Union Middle School,Pattuthurai | 45 |
| 13 | Panchayat Union Primary School,Navakurichi | 85 |
| 14 | Panchayat Union Primary School,Kamadappan Kovil | 6 |
| 15 | Panchayat Union Primary School, Vasanthapuram | 12 |
| 16 | Panchayat Union Primary School,Muyal Karadu | 30 |
FIRST RECORD (1)
On 16 July 2023, Ganeshwar SV sighted and recorded the call of a Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops persicus at Manivilundhan Old Tank. This is the first record for the Salem district. To see the complete checklist, please click here.
FIRST RECORD (2)
On 28 Sep 2023, Vasi (Vadivukkarasi A) & Vasen Suli (Senthil Kumar S) sighted and photographed Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maurus at Stanley Reservoir–Pannavadi for the first time in Salem District. To see the complete checklist, click here.
FIRST PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORD (1)
On 13 August 2023, Senthil Kumar S sighted and photographed Savanna Nightjar Caprimulgus affinis from the Sittanur Scrub Forest Area, Salem. This is the first photographic and second record for the entire district after 2009. The previous first call record was by Patrick David. To view the complete checklist, click here.
FIRST PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORD (2)
On 28 Sep 2023, Vasi (Vadivukkarasi A) & Vasen Suli (Senthil Kumar S) sighted and photographed a European Roller Coracias garrulus at Stanley Reservoir–Pannavadi. This is the second record for the District and the first photographic record for the Salem District. To see the complete checklist, click here.
SOF IN OTHER EVENTS (1)
On 12 August 2023, SOF’s Research Assistant and Nature Educator, Angeline Mano M was invited as a resource person for a one-day National Seminar on ‘Bird Conservation for a Healthy Environment’ organized by the PG and Research Department of Zoology, Sri Vijay Vidyalaya College of Arts and Science, Nallampalli, Dharmapuri. A total of 100+ students, research scholars, and faculty members participated in the seminar.
SOF IN OTHER EVENTS (2)
On 17 September 2023, Angeline Mano M, Ganeshwar S V, Kalaiselvan V, and Senthil Kumar S from Salem Ornithological Foundation were invited as the resource persons for the panel discussion on ‘The Importance of Citizen Science & Nature Education’. This was coordinated and organized by the District Institute of Education and Training, Salem. SOF expresses heartfelt thanks to the DIET Principal Dr. Selvam M for the opportunity.
STATE OF INDIA’S BIRDS 2023 – REPORT
State of India’s Birds 2023, second edition was released on 25 August 2023. The State of India’s Birds report is a periodic assessment of the distribution range, trends in abundance, and conservation status for most of the species that regularly occur in India. SoIB 2023 is based on 30+ million observations of over 20,000 birdwatchers and researchers and has been put together by a consortium of 13 partner organizations. It assesses 942 Indian bird species for conservation priority. As a part of the release of State of India’s Birds 2023 report, a panel discussion was conducted on ‘How we can take the message of bird conservation to diverse audiences? by the panelists Abhiram Sankar, IAS, LBSNAA Mussoorie, Anita Mani, Publisher, Indian Pitta Imprint, Manoj Nair, IFS, Odisha Forest Department, Pia Sethi, Ecologist, CEDAR which was moderated by Neha Sinha, Head, Policy and Communication, WWF-India. To download the report and for complete details, visit www.stateofindiasbirds.in
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE BIRDS OF SALEM?
Salem Ornithological Foundation published an excerpt document titled SoIB 2023: What does it mean for the Birds of Salem? The document is an excerpt from the complete State of India’s Birds 2023 report, prepared for the ease of reference to the district birders as well as to those who like to know more about Salem’s Birds. This is the first excerpt document based on SoIB 2023 for a district in India. All the bird conservation activities of Salem district in the present and future can be curated based on this document. To read and download the document, click here. Also, to read and download the Salem highlights with photos, click here.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE BIRDS OF TAMIL NADU?
Salem Ornithological Foundation published an excerpt document titled SoIB 2023: What does it mean for the Birds of Tamil Nadu? The document is an excerpt from the complete State of India’s Birds 2023 report, prepared for the ease of reference to the birders across the State as well as to those who like to know more about the birds of Tamil Nadu. To read and download the document, click here.
MYNA – MAPPING YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD AVIFAUNA
The MYNA is from the fantastic resource by the State of India’s Birds 2023 using eBird data. Using MYNA – Mapping Your Neighbourhood Avifauna, one can learn more about the birds present in each district. The report is based on the checklists from eBird. It also has the total number of migratory species, list of endemic and threatened species, SoIB priority species, frequency of reporting, waterbird congregations, top 10 common species, and more. Click here to view and download the MYNA report for each of the districts in Tamil Nadu.
SOF’S ONLINE WEBINAR
On 23 September 20223, Salem Ornithological Foundation in association with Bird Count India and Tamil Birders Network organized an online webinar on SoIB 2023: What does it mean for the Birds of Salem? The recording of the webinar is available on the SOF’s YouTube channel. To listen to the webinar’s recording, please click here.
