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birding...
India Kerala
Sandwiched between the lofty green-shrouded Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea lies Kerala, the quiet mystic - God`s Own Country. Kerala is well endowed with avifauna as nearly 500 species of resident and migratory birds abound in this area. Lush green tropical forests, numerous freshwater and brackish lakes and waterlogged paddy fields form the major birding habitats of this region. Since the time when Prof:K.K.Neelakantan first mesmerised a wide audience with his entertaining books in Malayalam; birdwatching has caught the public imagination. The new Kerala mailing list is the result of growing interest in birding and provides a digital habitat for birders of Kerala. |
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Kole Wetlands
Kole Wetlands are a winter wildfowl area of international importance. The Kol lands (marshlands & open paddy fields) surrounding the town of Thrissur and are famed for birding. The traditional farming lands of Central Kerala grow rice, coconuts and other spices. Here Red Avadavat, Streaked Weaver, Clamorous Reed Warbler, Malabar Lark, abound as do many water birds.Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
Kumarakom is a large backwater lagoon. While moving around the lagoon, you are likely to see White-breasted Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Small Blue Kingfisher, Little Cormorant, White-breasted Waterhen, Black Bittern, Chestnut Bitten, Little Egret, Cattle Egret and Median Egrets. You may also see Great Cormorants, Open-billed Storks, Grey Herons, Yellow Bitterns, White Ibis, Cotton Teal, Pheasant-tailed Jacanas, Koras, Black-caped Kingfishers, Ruddy Crakes, Gull-billed Terns and Shikras.Periyar Tiger Reserve
Parambikulam - Periyar is well located as a centre for seeing most of these ornithological specialties of the Western Ghats, as well as large numbers of other resident hill species and migrants. It is also one of the best-managed Tiger Reserves in the country and is home to large herds of elephants, bison, bears, leopards and tigers. Its attraction for birdwatchers is enhanced by the proximity of low-lying plains on three sides. There is considerable local migration of lowland species, often in the drier weather, up into the foothills, and several interesting examples of ecological counterparts in pairs of wet zone and dry zone species can be found, e.g. the Barbets. This is particularly noticeable at Thekkady, conveniently sited near the top of a steep 450m/1500ft ghat above the dry Tamil Nadu plain. In deciduous forest around Thekkady the commonest species in mixed foraging flocks are, in descending order Racket-tailed Drongo, Scarlet Minivet, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Bronzed Drongo, Grey Tit, Golden-backed Woodpeckers, White-bellied Treepie, Jungle Babbler, Indian Rufus Treepie, Yellow-browed Bulbul, Large Wood Shrike, Ashy Drongo, Small Minivet, Gold-fronted Leafbird, Small Green Barbet and a variety of Flowerpeckers. Other common birds include Orioles, Fairy Bluebird, Leaf Warbler, Flycatchers and Quaker Babbler. Almost all species recorded in the sanctuary can be seen at one time or another in the Tourist Zone, although it is necessary to climb to the grassy hilltops find some, such as Brown Pipit and Pied Bush Chat.Silent Valley
Silent Valley is one of the last remaining tropical wet evergreen patches left in Kerala.Thattekkad
If one makes a birding trip to Kerala try not to miss out on Thattekkad - the only tropical bird sanctuary in India. Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, also known as Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, is 12 km NE of Kothamangalam in Ernakulam District, Kerala state, about 50 km east of Kochi. This is the prime birding destination in South India. Specialties here include Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl, Ceylon Frogmouth, Red Spurfowl, Bay Owl, Rufous Babbler, Blue-faced Malkoha, Brown-breasted, White-bellied Blue-tailed and Rusty-tailed Flycatchers, Grey-headed Bulbul and Wynad Laughing Thrush. Moreover, Thattekkad is ideal for seeing a good number of the 16 endemics of the Western Ghats. The more difficult birds are Wynad Laughing Thrush and Grey-headed Bulbul. Proceed to Orullathany, at one end of the reserve, for the Bulbul and Laughing Thrush. Also visit Edamalayar Power Plant land and the South side of the river for the owls, Streak-throated Woodpecker and Yellow-billed Babbler. Other notable species likely to be seen within the Reserve are Red Spurfowl, Ceylon Frogmouth, Blue-faced Malkoha, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Malabar Grey Hornbill, White-bellied and Heart-spotted Woodpeckers, Rufous Babbler, White-bellied Blue Flycatcher, White-bellied Treepie and Black-throated Munia.Wynad Wildlife Santuary
Wynad Wildlife Santuary speaks for itself.contributor |
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Praveen Jayadevan
Moderator - Keralabirder
painted_stork@yahoo.com
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Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Malabar Parakeet, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Rufous Babbler, White-bellied Treepie, Grey-headed Bulbul, Wynad Laughing Thrush, Black & Orange Flycatcher, Nilgiri Flycatcher, White-bellied Blue Flycatcher, Nilgiri Pipit, Crimson-backed Sunbird, Nilgiri Laughing Thrush, White-bellied Shortwing, Broad-tailed Grassbird, Grey-breasted Laughing Thrush
useful reading |
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* Field Guides & Bird Song
For a comprehensive list of recommended titles covering India as a whole - please see the main India page of FatbirderA Book of Kerala Birds
Edited by KK Neelakantan, C Sashikumar and R Venugopalan 146 pages, col plates [identifying 28 birds], b/w illus [for 12 more], map. WWF IndiaISBN: 35080
Buy this book from NHBS.com
Bird Sounds of Goa and South India
Hannu Jannes, WildSoundsISBN: 156613
Buy this book from NHBS.com
useful information |
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State Bird
Great Hornbill
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Eravikulam National Park
http://www.indianwildlife.com/national-parks/eravikulam-national-park.htmIn the forested high ranges of the south Indian state of Kerala is a valley watered by three rivers. The mountains that hunch out of the valley are covered in manicured slopes of tea. This is the Eravikulam National Park, known for the Nilgiri Tahr, a goat in dire need of the dedicated protection given by the State Forest Department and the company which owns the tea estates in Munnar. This is a good stop-over for wildlifers entering Kerala from Ooty and going toward the Periyar National Park.
Periyar National Park
http://www.indianwildlife.com/national-parks/periyar-national-park.htmThe birds include darter, cormorant, grey heron, ibis, great malabar hornbill and grey hornbill, kingfishers, ospreys and kites as well as orioles, hill mynas, racket tailed drongos, parakeets, including the unusual blue winged paraket and flycatchers.
Periyar National Park
http://www.travelmasti.com/Wildlife-sanct/periyar.htmDue to the abundant water bodies located all over the park, Periyar National Park is nothing short of a haven for bird life. Predominant among them are: Darters, Cormorants, Ospreys, Kingfishers, Racket Tailed Drongos, fish owls, Kites, Great Hornbills, Gray Hornbills, Hill Mynahs, Grey Herons, White Egrets and Orioles. There are over 200 bird species that have been in recorded in Periyar National Park.
Periyar Tiger Reserve
http://www.thekkady.com/The forests of Periyar can be divided into four categories. The open grasslands are home to the Elephants, the Bison and herds of deer. The moist deciduous forest is dominated by trees like Terminalia and Teak which shed their leaves seasonally. The semi-evergreen forest occurs along wet stream areas and is often adjacent to the tropical evergreen forest. Lastly, the Sholas or tropical evergreen jungle which is typical of the entire western Ghats in the state, abounds in this Reserve.
Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary - Thattekad
http://www.birdskerala.com/html/main/thatt.htmOn the western side of the Indian subcontinent is the rainward side of the western ghats, a lush green part of the country watered by every passing cloud. Here lies the quiet but beautiful Kerala, haven for a wide variety of exotic flora and fauna. Thattekad, on the banks of the river Periyar, is a dense monsoon forest, not very far from the port town of Cochin. Salim Ali described it as the birder`s paradise. A plantation forest with teak, mahogany and fruit-bearing trees along with the natural wild tropical deciduous vegetation, it is home to nearly 350 species of birds, most notably the Malabar grey hornbill. Other exotic birds are the Ceylon frogmouth, Malabar trogon, White-bellied treepie and Heart-spotted woodpecker. Elephants also live here, happy with the easily accessible ponds on the side of the river. It is now protected as the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary.
Thattekkad
http://www.thattekkad.com/thattekkad.htmlThe Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary, one of the most important bird santuaries in South Idia, was established by Dr. Salim Ali, the famous ornithologist, in 1998. Thattekkad Sanctuary is situated in Kerala in the Devikulam Taluk of Idukki District...
trip reports |
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Travelling Birder
http://www.travellingbirder.com
The Travellingbirder.com birding trip report search engine guides you to 7,000+ birding trip reports on the Internet. You can search for trip reports from a specific country and time of year. Not all these reports are in English. So, if you can’t find the trip report you want on this Fatbirder page… give them a try!
1999 [January] - Tony Coatsworth - Periyar
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tony.coatsworth/trips/periyar.htmSpecies seen during our stay at Aryana Nivas in the Periyar National Park. Most birds were seen during guided walks at 7:00am or along the main road back to Kumily.
2002 [February] - Susan Meyers
http://users.wired.net.au/susan/sthindia.htmThe Western Ghats are a mountain range stretching from Mumbai (Bombay) to the south of the peninsula. They are well known as a region of high biodiversity and a number of endemic species are found here. The reason for this is thought to be due to the large evergreen forests found on the mountain slopes which are separated from similar forests in the north by hundreds of kilometres of open plains and dry forest. The area is classified as an important bird area by Birdlife International...
2004 [July] - Dennis Buss
http://www.allindiabirding.inI had business in Bangalore Wed-Fri 14-16 July, and I arranged with Gurudongma Tours & Treks for four days of bird watching in Kerala. The cost was $600 USD, which covered room and food, it covered a car and driver, and it covered the cost of a guide. Eldhose was my guide...
2005 [December] - Keith Valentine
http://www.rockjumper.co.za/02_destination_b_reports_india_s_2005_dec.htmExploring the forests and mountains of the Western Ghats in Southern India is a must for serious birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts alike as the quality of birds as well as other wildlife encountered is exceptional. The Rockjumper trip that visited this unique area in December 2005 was undoubtedly one of the most successful trips ever undertaken as we managed to locate every single endemic of the Western Ghats!
tour operators |
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All India Birding Tours
http://www.allindiabirding.com/south_india/kerala/kerala.htmlYour Birding itinerary depends upon your interests, the duration of the planned trip, and other matters such as your budget...
Birding Pal
http://www.birdingpal.org/India.htmLocal birders willing to show visiting birders around their area...
Green Explorer
http://www.greenexplorer.com/Tucked amidst the mountains are small hill stations, which boasts of more than a dozen incredibly excellent wildlife destinations for the discerning enthusiast that can be expected nowhere else in the entire south India. Tropical forest, grasslands, rivers and lakes and backwaters present a myriad of diverse faces of Kerala’s ecosystem. Copious rainfall and the mesmerizing humidity are therefore the essence of climate, bio-diversity and greenery which makes Kerala “The God’s Own Country”. There are nearly 320 species of butterflies, 136 species of dragonflies, and 500 different species of birds...
Kalypso Adventures
http://www.kalypsoadventures.com/html/birding.htmKerala has indeed been a well-recognized birders` destination for many years now; exhibiting considerable diversity of terrain and vegetation. From towering mountains and thick forests to the beautiful backwaters and rivers. Moreover, with its equable climate and an educated population, Kerala has been known to be a destination for the world traveler...
Sinclairs Bird Watching
http://www.sinclairsbirdwatching.comHotel Sinclairs offers three exotic destinations for bird lovers, namely Dooars, Portblair and Ooty. A pursuit for families, groups and individuals, birdwatching is becoming increasingly popular today. Birding is easy and inexpensive, requiring minimal equipment, skill and physical fitness. With their diverse habitats and hospitable climate, it is easy to see why the three destinations among the best for birdwatching in the Indian sub-continent...
places to stay |
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Fridays Place
http://www.kukimedia.com/fridaysplaceSouthern Kerala and adjoining Tamil Nadu support a rich array of bird life on the coastal plain and up into the hills, the Western Ghats. Last year we had Brahminy Kites and Paraqueets nesting on our land! We are happy to arrange day trips out for the twitcher in you - ideal for wetland birds and also for the nearby ghats.
Hornbill Camp
http://www.thehornbillcamp.com/Welcome to Hornbill Camp. Prepare for the Ultimate Eco- Adventure and enjoy the most pristine jungle, as natural as it gets! Let your stay at this camp be one with nature as you discover the joys of birding in a lowland tropical forest. With over 275 species in such a small area, most of them endemics, Thattekkad offers a rare view into the world of birding in Kerala. The Hornbill Camp has been specifically planned to make you get the most out of your short stay here at Thattekkad.
Kerala Tourism Development Corporation
http://www.ktdc.com/Sprawling mansions set in lovely locales-exotic islands, luxuriant game reserves...on hill sides, by beaches, backwaters. That this description fits most of our hotels is not the only thing that makes one an ideal pick for a tourist. The largest hotel chain in Kerala has much much more to offer.
Palamattom Farm House
http://www.thattekkad.com/thattekkad.htmlThe Palamattom Farm House is situated within serene Palamattom plantations. The gently uindulating land overlooks the Thattekkad Sanctuary and is bordered by the Anamudi Hills on the side of the Periyar River on the other...
Periyar National Park Accommodation
http://www.wildlywise.com/pnp_acco.htmThere is an excellent variety of accommodation facilities available at the park. The main concentration of these facilities is in and around the Tourist Complex located in the North-Western region of the park. The main ones here being Aranya Nivas and the Periyar House.
Periyar River Lodge
http://www.periyarriverlodge.comThe Periyar River Lodge adjoins the Thattekad Bird Sanctuary in Kerala, which currently attracts lot of ardent birders. We also have an accomplished bird guide who takes the guests for birding trips from the Lodge...
Royal Retreat
http://www.hotelskerala.com/royalretreat/Quiet, restful. A cozy little place, tucked away in the hills of Munnar. A hideout, if you like, from everyday life. For restful weeks or relaxed weekends...
Tharavadu Heritage Home
http://www.tharavaduheritage.comOurs is a 120 year old Christian Banglow at Kumarakom, the backwater tourist village in Kerala in India. Ours is an Eco Friendly property located by the side of a River and close to the lake. We provide homely stay, boat cruise, ayurveda body massaging etc. etc. for Tourists...
mailing lists |
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keralabirder
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/keralabirderTo post to list:keralabirder@yahoogroups.com
List contact:keralabirder-owner@yahoogroups.com
To subscribe to list:keralabirder-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
A Discussion Forum for Birdwatchers of Kerala. In trend with the growing interest in birds and birdwatching in Kerala, we have set up an e-group for such people to interact and gather remotely through the fast facility of electronic access. This mailing list has been set up with the following interests in mind. Praveen J - Moderator
other links |
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Birds of Kerala
http://www.birdskerala.com/A Complete Guide to Birding in Kerala, India. Kerala has abundance of forests, wetlands and a long coastline – making it rich in avifauna and hence a very rich destination for birding enthusiasts. This land is home to more than five hundred species of birds – some of them found nowhere else in the world. According to Birdlife International, it is also one of eight centers of endemism in the Indian sub continent.
Nilgiri Tahr Foundation
http://www.tahrfoundation.org/OK - its not a bird but... Nilgiri Tahr Foundation with Head Quarters at Kochi - Kerala -India has been launched with the idea of monitoring and conducting field studies on Ecology and behaviour of this highly endangered animal. The foundation plans to work in close co-operation and coordination with the forest and wildlife department of Kerala and Tamilnadu and other interested research institutions like wildlife Institute of India Dehradun (W.I.I.) and Kerala Forest Research Institute (K.F.R.L).
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