DIRECTOR’S NOTE
“With several first records set in the past quarter for Salem, SOF is still working to improve biodiversity and environmental health by increasing awareness, bolstering conservation efforts, and meaningfully engaging birders, and students across the district. We are glad to share expertise in sessions on birdwatching, climate change, and nature education.” – Ganeshwar S V
SYSTEMATIC BIRD MONITORING AT MANIVILUNDHAN OLD TANK
From October to December, the systematic bird monitoring was continued by SOF. A total of 102, 98, and 95 species (month-wise total species) were recorded at Manivilundhan Old Lake. All the observations were uploaded to eBird. To view the complete checklists, please click here.
SYSTEMATIC BIRD MONITORING AND BIODIVERSITY DOCUMENTATION AT WETLANDS UNDER PROJECT NANNEER
From October to December, the systematic bird monitoring was continued by SOF in wetlands under Project Nanneer. A total of 100, 105, and 111 species (month-wise total species) were recorded at the following kanmais Chettiyan, Vadakudipatti, Kanappettai, Panangudi, and Oonaiyur. All the observations were uploaded to eBird. To view the complete checklists, please click here.
ORNISCHOOL
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. 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, Unathur | 224 |
| 2 | Panchayat Union Primary School, Ponnoli Nagar | 18 |
| 3 | Panchayat Union Primary School, Veepanatham | 24 |
| 4 | Panchayat Union Middle School, Veepanatham | 81 |
| 5 | Panchayat Union Middle School, Varagur | 55 |
| 6 | Panchayat Union Primary School, Puthur | 165 |
| 7 | Panchayat Union Primary School, Siruvachur | 108 |
| 8 | Panchayat Union Primary School, Periyeri | 107 |
| 9 | Panchayat Union Middle School, Periyeri | 116 |
| 10 | Panchayat Union Primary School,Periyeri Ward 1 | 17 |
| 11 | Panchayat Union Primary School, Aragalur | 67 |
| 12 | Panchayat Union Primary School, Thiyaganur | 11 |
| 13 | Panchayat Union Primary School, Sitheri | 64 |
| 14 | Panchayat Union Middle School, Govindampalayam | 97 |
| 15 | Panchayat Union Primary School, Thiyaganur South | 29 |
SOF IN OTHER EVENTS (1)
On 12 October 2023, SOF’s Research Assistant and Nature Educator, Angeline Mano M was invited as a resource person for a session on ‘Introduction to Birdwatching and Importance of Nature Education’ organized by the DDE, Department of Zoology, Annamalai University, Chidambaram. A total of 50+ students participated in the session.
SOF IN OTHER EVENTS (2)
On 19 October 2023, SOF’s Founder and Director, Ganeshwar S V was invited as a resource person for a session on the Impact of Climate Change on Birds and its Habitat. The district-level meeting was organized by the Department of Environment and Climate Change, Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission.
SOF IN OTHER EVENTS (3)
On 1 November 2023, SOF’s Research Assistant and Nature Educator, Angeline Mano’s bird photograph was exhibited at the photography exhibition held at Reliance Mall. The exhibition was organized by the Salem Photo Club.
MIGRATORY BIRD CENSUS – NAMAKKAL FOREST DIVISION
Salem Ornithological Foundation got an opportunity to coordinate the migratory bird census for the Namakkal Forest Division. SOF’s Research Assistant and Nature Educator, Angeline Mano coordinated the census. Volunteers took part in the census and collected bird data. All the sightings and observations are uploaded to eBird. To view the trip report, click here.
SALIM ALI BIRD COUNT
Salim Ali Bird Count 2023 commemorates the birth anniversary of the Birdman of India, Dr. Salim Ali. From 05 to 12 November 2023, birders across the Salem district participated in the Salim Ali Bird Count and uploaded all the observations to the eBird.
BIRDNOV
Bird Nov is a festival to celebrate the birds and the Birdman of India, Dr. Salim Ali. It is also the time when a lot of birds migrate to the Indian subcontinent. As a part of Bird Nov, SOF prepared informative posters of the birding Hotspots in Salem with the help of the tool named MYNA by the State of India’s Birds. SOF also posted distribution maps of the high-priority species in Salem District. All the species data was taken from eBird and other species details from the State of India’s Birds. To view the works, click here.
GHOST NETS CLEAN-UP DRIVE
On 23 & 24 December 2023, SOF organized a clean-up drive at Stanley Reservoir, Salem to remove the abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing nests that act as death traps killing birds. The primary clean-up location for the first phase was at Pannavadi, Mettur. Volunteers took part in this clean-up drive and contributed to the bird conservation in Salem. Wherever the ghost nets were entangled in the vegetation, at least one bird had lost its life. Though we knew ghost nets kill, we understood the gravity of the situation only when we hit the ground and started the clean-up drive. It was depressing to see so many birds like Prinias, Drongos, Pond-Herons, Rollers, Cormorants that had lost their lives. Surprisingly, we also found a dead Russell’s Viper tangled in the nets. Ghost nets kill everything that gets caught. We didn’t expect the amount of nets that we’d collect. So we will be following this up, soon with a second clean-up drive. We’re also having talks with the local fishermen community to keep the Stanley Reservoir free from ghost nets. If the problem of ghost nets in an inland reservoir is this bad, think about the countless lives that are lost in the oceans due to ghost nets. This is our mess that needs to be cleaned up. Let’s conserve all the creatures that share this planet with us.
FIRST RECORDS (1)
On 8 Oct 2023, Ganeshwar S V, Senthil Kumar S, Vadivukkarasi A, Shanavas Mohamed, and Mubarak K sighted and photographed Dunlin Calidris alpina at Stanley Reservoir–Pannavadi, Mettur. This is the first record for the Salem District. To view the complete checklists, click here.
FIRST RECORDS (2)
On 24 Oct 2023, Shanavas Mohamed sighted and photographed Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata for the first time at Stanley Reservoir–Pannavadi, Mettur. This is yet another first record for the Salem District. To view the complete checklist, click here.
FIRST RECORDS (3)
On 30 Nov 2023, Kasi Viswanathan A sighted and photographed Common Babbler Argya caudata for the first time at Palapatti, Salem. This is the first record for the Salem District. To view the complete checklists, click here.
FIRST RECORDS (4)
On 23 Dec 2023, Thanigai Velu sighted and photographed a Slender-billed Gull Chroicocephalus genei at Stanley Reservoir–Pannavadi, Salem. This is the first record for the Salem District. To view the complete checklists, click here.
IN THE NEWS
SALEM eBIRD STATS 2023
Salem submitted 16,600+ complete checklists to eBird in 2023. 100+ resident and migrant eBirders uploaded 3,400+ bird photographs. In 2023, 290+ species were recorded, with seven new additions in the Salem district.
