CASE REPORT ZOOS' PRINT JOURNAL 15(10): 344-349 BIRDS OF KOLE WETLANDS, THRISSUR, KERALA C. Sivaperuman and E.A. Jayson* Division of Wildlife Biology, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Kerala 680653, India. * Corresponding Author E-mail:
[email protected] Abstract recognized groups popularly known as wildfowl, waterfowl, Bird community of Kole wetlands in Thrissur District, shore birds and waders. Among the wetlands in Kerala, Kole Kerala State was studied during November 1998 to wetland in Thrissur District occupies an important position December 1999. The methodology followed was mainly (Anon, 1996). According to Perennou (1990) out of the nine observations using spotting scope. A total of 167 species resident endangered waterfowl, four were seen in Kole wetlands. of birds, belonging to 16 orders and 39 families were Jairaj and Kumar (1990) reported Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea recorded from the area during the period. Among them, leucorodia) from Kole wetlands. Two short term surveys of 53 species of birds were winter visitors. Highest number one week duration employing volunteer bird watchers were of birds was recorded in the month of January and the conducted to list the birds of Kole wetlands during the winter lowest was observed in June. Little Egret, Cattle Egret, months of 1992 and 1993 (Anon, 1992; 1993). Details of these Little Cormorant, Pond Heron, Median Egret and surveys and earlier census data were compared and published Whiskered Tern were the most abundant resident and by Nameer (1993). Ravindran (1993; 1999) reported the local migrant species found in the Kole wetlands. The occurrence of Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) and White- importance of this wetland area as the “stepping stone” necked Stork (Ciconia episcopus) respectively from this area.