Pongal Count 2018 January, 13-16

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Pongal Bird Count

Pongal was celebrated by birders of through Pongal Bird Count (PBC), an event organized by the Tamilbirds group and Bird Count . This event was organized for the 4th time in Tamil Nadu.

2015 2016 2017 2018

329 lists 1296 lists 1741 lists 1734

285 334 species 346 species 350 species

174.3 hours 790.4 hours 885.4 hours 1176.7 hours

85 participants 170 participants 178 participants 196 participants

1734 Checklists in 32 districts

Birders from all districts in Tamil Nadu and an adjoing Union Territory, Puducherry, participated in PBC 2018.

Heat map of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry showing the lists submitted during PBC 2018. Deeper red indicates overlapping lists, which signal more lists from that location.

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Out of 1734 lists submitted most lists were from Salem, Coimbatore, Tirupur, Pudukkottai and (top 5 districts).

During the PBC 2018, more than 370 checklists were submitted daily (Day1-472, Day2- 424, Day3-374, and Day4-464)

350 species

Out of nearly 525 species likely to occur in Tamil Nadu region, 350 species were reported during within four days of PBC 2018. Complete list of reported during this period can be seen in Annexure 1.

Common Myna was the most common resident bird appearing in 52% of all the checklists and the Blyth’s Reed Warbler was the most common migrant appearing in 22% of the checklists. Top 5 species reported in individual districts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during PBC 2018 can be seen in Annexure 2.

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Top 10 resident birds reported during PBC 2018

Sl. No. Common Name Scientific Name Percentage Occurrence 1 Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 51.4 2 House Crow Corvus splendens 50.9 3 Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus 39.0 4 Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri 37.2 5 Indian Pond-Heron Ardeola grayii 36.0 6 Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos 35.5 7 Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer 31.7 8 Yellow-billed Babbler affinis 31.1 9 Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis 30.7 10 Asian Palm-Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis 29.6

Top 10 migrant birds reported during PBC 2018

Sl. No. Common Name Scientific Name Percentage Occurrence 1 Blyth's Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum 22.8 2 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 20.6 3 Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus 15.8 4 Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola 9.5 5 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos 9.5 6 Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus 9.1 7 Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava 8.0 8 Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus 6.8 9 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea 6.5 10 Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus 6.3

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1176.7 hours and 196 participants

During PBC 2018, each participant spent on an average 6.2 hours on birding. This includes individual participants and group accounts. Coimbatore and Kancheepuram districts had highest number of participants (48 and 24 respectively). The Nilgiris (2.8 hrs) and Ariyalur (2.6 hrs) had highest per person effort.

The table shows the top participants (including group accounts) per union territory/ districts, in terms of number of lists submitted. (Top 5 participants per districts are shown. In case there were any group accounts among the list of top 5 participants, individuals that followed in the order are also mentioned.)

DISTRICT NO. OF AVERAGE PER PARTICIPANT NAMES PARTICIPANTS PERSON (HRS) ARIYALUR 4 2.6 CHERAN J, ELANGOVAN VISVANATHAN, ELAVARASAN M, PARTHASARATHY THIRUMALAI. CHENNAI 21 1.0 KARTHIKEYAN PONNAMBALAMOORTHY, SUNDAR PALANIVELU, KARTHICK VS, RAMRAJ S, VIVEK PULIYERI. COIMBATORE 48 1.6 CINCHONA GOVT HIGH SCHOOL(GROUP ACCOUNT) , CNS NATURE , VIJAYKUMAR KRISHNAMURTHY , THEIVAPRAKASHAM HARI , ARULVELAN THILLAINAYAGAM , PRATHAP RAMASAMY , BHAVI K. CUDDALORE 4 0.6 SURENDHAR BOOBALAN, VIGNESHWARAN B, GANESHWAR SV, SHAN MUGAM. DHARMAPURI 6 0.7 VADIVUKKARASI A, SALEM NATURE & WILDLIFE TRUST SNWT, SHANKAR SHRIJAN, SARAVANAN DHANDAPANI, GHSS ARASUR, TARACHAND WANVARI. DINDIGUL 12 1.3 RAMESHWARAN HOOPOE , KARTHIKEYAN G B , ALAN TRAUTMANN , BULBUL MURUGES , SATHEESH MUTHU GOPAL B. ERODE 4 0.6 AM AMSA, GHSS ARASUR, RAJASEKARAN PERIYASAMY, VISHNU C S. KANCHEEPURAM 24 1.2 CHERAN J, KARTHIKEYAN PONNAMBALAMOORTHY, SHERMAN GARNETT, SIDDHARTH S, GNANASKANDAN KESAVABHARATHI. KANNIYAKUMARI 1 0.3 ARUN M KARUR 3 0.2 AM AMSA, PANCHAPAKESAN JEGANATHAN, SHEEBA NANJAN. KRISHNAGIRI 1 0.0 TARACHAND WANVARI MADURAI 13 1.9 KARTHIKEYAN G B, CHERAN J, GOWTHAM RAM, AMOL MANDE, BADRI NARAYANAN THIAGARAJAN. NAGAPPATTINAM 4 0.3 SURENDHAR BOOBALAN, VIGNESHWARAN B , SUNDAR K , RAJESH KUMAR. NAMAKKAL 2 0.5 SALEM NATURE & WILDLIFE TRUST SNWT , GHSS ARASUR. PERAMBALUR 1 0.5 KARTHIKEYAN G B PUDUCHERRY 6 1.0 SURENDHAR BOOBALAN , VIGNESHWARAN B , GANESHWAR SV , KARTHICK VS , GANAPATHY SIVAPIRAGASAM. PUDUKKOTTAI 4 0.6 RAJARAJAN V, SELVAGANESH K, SATHYA NARAYANAN, IBIS ANDRIL (GROUP ACCOUNT). RAMANATHAPURAM 2 1.7 RAVEENDRAN NATARAJAN , DR. RAVI M

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SALEM 21 0.9 SALEM ORNITHOLOGICAL FOUNDATION (GROUP ACCOUNT) , VASEN SULI , SUBRAMANIA SIVA , GANESHWAR SV , BHARATH KUMAR , V.KALAISELVAN,P.U.P.SCHOOL, NEERMULLIKUTTAI,SALEM. SIVAGANGA 6 1.0 PRASANNA MANIVANNAN, JEYARAJ AATHI, DR. RAVI M, RAVEENDRAN NATARAJAN, RAJARAJAN V. THANJAVUR 5 0.6 RAJA SIMMA PANDIYAN, RAMMANOHAR B, DURAISWAMY NAVANEETHAM, PARTHASARATHY THIRUMALAI, DR GUNALAN. THE NILGIRIS 6 2.8 STEPHAN LORENZ, WILL YANDIK, WILLIAM COOK, DRUVA MURALI, KINGSLEY DAVID, NANDHAKUMAR RADHAKRISHNAN. THENI 2 0.8 RAVEENDRAN NATARAJAN , HARI KUMAR THIRUVALLUR 9 1.1 SATHYA KUMAR, SIVAKUMAR SS, JAIGANESH BALAKRISHNAN, KARTHICK VS, ARUL PARADISE. THIRUVARUR 7 1.7 ARAVIND AMIRTHARAJ, NALINI ARAVIND, ELANGOVAN VISVANATHAN, PARTHASARATHY THIRUMALAI, RAJA SIMMA PANDIYAN. THOOTHUKKUDI 5 1.1 MUTHU NARAYANAN, VINOBA ANAND, ROHIT PANSARE, JOHN JOSEPH CHELLADURAI, GHSS ARASUR. TIRUCHIRAPPALLI 10 1.3 AMOL MANDE, SACHDEEP S, NOOR ASADULLAH, BALA BHARATHI, GNANITH. TIRUNELVELI 7 1.4 SUBRAMANIAN R, RAJANNA VENKATRAMAN, LINGARAJA VENKATESH, PAVANASAM VELAYUTHAM, RAMA NARAYANAN. TIRUPPUR 23 0.9 GHSS ARASUR, AM AMSA, SHANMUGAM KALIDASS, RAVEENDRAN KC, ILAN RAJASEKARAN, SUBHASHINI SIVASUBRAMANIAN. TIRUVANNAMALAI 5 1.5 SIVAKUMAR RAMASAMY, PARIPOORANAM KATHAVARAYAN, KALAIMANI AYUTHAVEL, ARUN VENKATARAMANAN, MOHAMED SALMAN. VELLORE 6 1.0 HARSHJEET BAL, SANTHARAM V, PRITHIVI RAJ S, PRAVEEN KUMAR , SUJITH VERGHIS. VILUPPURAM 7 0.8 SURENDHAR BOOBALAN, VIGNESHWARAN B , GANESHWAR SV , ARAVIND AMIRTHARAJ , NEETHI VDS. VIRUDUNAGAR 6 0.6 WAR RAJAPALAYAM (GROUP ACCOUNT) , VIJI G , PAVITHIRA KUMAR , GHSS ARASUR , VISHNU SANKAR , ALAN TRAUTMANN

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Some participants and groups showed dedicated efforts during PBC 2018 and are mentioned below:

Top 10 individuals by no. of lists Top 10 individuals by no. of hours

Name No. of Lists Name Hours Rajarajan V 84 Selvaganesh K 28.6 Selvaganesh K 83 Rajarajan V 27.7 Ganeshwar SV 54 Ganeshwar SV 23.4 Surendhar Boobalan 54 Siddharth S 22.1 Vigneshwaran B 46 Surendhar Boobalan 22.0 Kalaimani Ayuthavel 42 Will Yandik 18.6 Shanmugam Kalidass 38 William Cook 18.6 Vasen Suli 31 Magesh Ram 18.1 Panchapakesan Jeganathan 28 Cheran J 17.9 Subramania siva 27 Elavarasan M 17.8 Vivek Puliyeri 26 Vasen Suli 17.4

Top Group Accounts by no. of lists Top Group Accounts by no. of hours

Name No. of Name Hours Lists GHSS Arasur 139 GHSS Arasur 121.3 (Group account) Cinchona Govt High School 135 Cinchona Govt High 57.5 (Group account) School(Group account) Salem Ornithological Foundation 96 Salem Ornithological 47.8 (Group Account) Foundation (Group Account) Krishnampudur School Students 17 Krishnampudur School 13.9 (Group Account) Students (Group Account) CNS Nature 16 WAR Rajapalayam (Group 5.6 Account) Salem Nature & Wildlife Trust 7 The Pollachi Papyrus 3.4 SNWT WAR Rajapalayam 7 French Birds (Group Account) 1.8 (Group Account) French Birds 6 P.U.M.School Thalavaipatty 0.7 (Group Account) General Account

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Annexure 1. Complete list of birds reported during PBC 2018.

Sl. Common Name Scientific Name No. 1 Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus 2 Ashy Prinia socialis 3 Ashy Woodswallow Artamus fuscus 4 Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark (Ashy-crowned Finch-Lark) Eremopterix griseus 5 Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica 6 Asian Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica 7 Asian Fairy-bluebird Irena puella 8 Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus 9 Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans 10 Asian Palm-Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis 11 Baillon's Crake Zapornia pusilla 12 Banded Bay Cuckoo Cacomantis sonneratii 13 Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus 14 Barn Owl Tyto alba 15 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 16 Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike Hemipus picatus 17 Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus 18 Bay-backed Shrike Lanius vittatus 19 Besra Accipiter virgatus 20 Black Bittern Ixobrychus flavicollis 21 Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus 22 Black Eagle Ictinaetus malaiensis 23 Black Kite Milvus migrans 24 Black-and-rufous Flycatcher (Black-and-orange Flycatcher) Ficedula nigrorufa 25 Black-bellied Plover (Grey Plover) Pluvialis squatarola 26 Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax 27 Black-headed Cuckooshrike Lalage melanoptera 28 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus 29 Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus 30 Black-hooded Oriole Oriolus xanthornus 31 Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea 32 Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis 33 Black-rumped Flameback (Lesser Goldenbacked Dinopium benghalense Woodpecker) 34 Black-shouldered Kite (Black-winged Kite) Elanus caeruleus 35 Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa 36 Black-throated Munia Lonchura kelaarti 37 Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus 38 Blue Rock- Monticola solitarius

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39 Blue-bearded Bee-eater Nyctyornis athertoni 40 Blue-capped Rock-Thrush Monticola cinclorhynchus 41 Blue-faced Malkoha Phaenicophaeus viridirostris 42 Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus 43 Blue-throated Flycatcher (Blue-throated Blue-Flycatcher) rubeculoides 44 Blyth's Pipit Anthus godlewskii 45 Blyth's Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum 46 Bonelli's Eagle Aquila fasciata 47 Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus 48 Booted Warbler Iduna caligata 49 Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus 50 Brahminy Starling Sturnia pagodarum 51 Bronzed Drongo Dicrurus aeneus 52 Bronze-winged Jacana Metopidius indicus 53 Brown Fish-Owl Ketupa zeylonensis 54 Brown Hawk-Owl Ninox scutulata 55 Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus 56 Brown-backed Needletail Hirundapus giganteus 57 Brown-breasted Flycatcher Muscicapa muttui 58 Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker (Indian Pygmy Dendrocopos nanus Woodpecker) 59 Brown-cheeked Fulvetta Alcippe poioicephala 60 Brown-headed Barbet (Large Green Barbet) Psilopogon zeylanicus 61 Brown-headed Gull Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus 62 Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia 63 Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles exustus 64 Chestnut-headed Bee-eater Merops leschenaulti 65 Chestnut-shouldered Petronia (Yellow-throated Sparrow) Petronia xanthocollis 66 Chestnut-tailed Starling Sturnia malabarica 67 Chestnut-winged Cuckoo Clamator coromandus 68 Cinereous Tit (Great Tit) Parus cinereus 69 Cinnamon Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus 70 Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola 71 Clamorous Reed Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus 72 Comb Duck (Knob-billed Duck) Sarkidiornis melanotos 73 Common Babbler Turdoides caudata 74 Common Buzzard Buteo buteo 75 Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia 76 Common Hawk-Cuckoo Hierococcyx varius 77 Common Iora Aegithina tiphia 78 Common Kingfisher (Small Blue Kingfisher) Alcedo atthis 79 Common Myna Acridotheres tristis

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80 Common Redshank Tringa totanus 81 Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus 82 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos 83 Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago 84 Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius 85 Common Tern Sterna hirundo 86 Common Woodshrike Tephrodornis pondicerianus 87 Common/Stejneger's Stonechat (Siberian/Stejneger's Saxicola maurus Stonechat) 88 Coppersmith Barbet Psilopogon haemacephalus 89 Cotton Pygmy-Goose (Cotton Teal) Nettapus coromandelianus 90 Crab-Plover Dromas ardeola 91 Crested Goshawk Accipiter trivirgatus 92 Crested Hawk-Eagle Nisaetus cirrhatus 93 Crested Honey Buzzard (Oriental Honey-buzzard) Pernis ptilorhynchus 94 Crested Serpent-Eagle Spilornis cheela 95 Crested Treeswift Hemiprocne coronata 96 Crimson-backed Sunbird (Small Sunbird) Leptocoma minima 97 Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea 98 Dark-fronted Babbler Rhopocichla atriceps 99 Dunlin Calidris alpina 100 Dusky Crag-Martin Ptyonoprogne concolor 101 Eastern/Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 102 Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto 103 Eurasian Coot Fulica atra 104 Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata 105 Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops 106 Eurasian Kestrel (Common Kestrel) Falco tinnunculus 107 Eurasian Marsh-Harrier Circus aeruginosus 108 Eurasian Moorhen Gallinula chloropus 109 Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia 110 Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope 111 European Bee-eater Merops apiaster 112 Flame-throated Bulbul (Ruby-throated Bulbul) Pycnonotus gularis 113 Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus 114 Fulvous Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna bicolor 115 Garganey Spatula querquedula 116 Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus 117 Golden-fronted Leafbird (Golden-fronted Chloropsis) Chloropsis aurifrons 118 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 119 Great Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii 120 Great Egret Ardea alba

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121 Great Hornbill (Great Pied Hornbill) Buceros bicornis 122 Great Thick-knee (Great Stone-curlew) Esacus recurvirostris 123 Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis 124 Greater Flameback Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus 125 Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus 126 Greater Painted-Snipe Rostratula benghalensis 127 Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus 128 Greater Sand-Plover Charadrius leschenaultii 129 Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga 130 Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis 131 Green Imperial-Pigeon Ducula aenea 132 Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus 133 Green Warbler Phylloscopus nitidus 134 Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides 135 Green-winged Teal (Common Teal) Anas crecca 136 Grey Francolin Francolinus pondicerianus 137 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 138 Grey Junglefowl Gallus sonneratii 139 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea 140 Grey-bellied Cuckoo Cacomantis passerinus 141 Grey-breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsonii 142 Grey-fronted Green-Pigeon (Pompadour Green-Pigeon) Treron affinis 143 Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis 144 Grey-headed Lapwing Vanellus cinereus 145 Grey-headed Swamphen (Purple Swamphen) Porphyrio poliocephalus 146 Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica 147 Heart-spotted Woodpecker Hemicircus canente 148 Hill Swallow (House Swallow) Hirundo domicola 149 House Crow Corvus splendens 150 House Sparrow Passer domesticus 151 Hume's Whitethroat Sylvia althaea 152 Indian Blackbird Turdus simillimus 153 Indian Blue Robin Larvivora brunnea 154 Indian Cormorant (Indian Shag) Phalacrocorax fuscicollis 155 Indian Courser Cursorius coromandelicus 156 Indian Golden Oriole Oriolus kundoo 157 Indian Grey Hornbill Ocyceros birostris 158 Indian Nightjar Caprimulgus asiaticus 159 Indian Nuthatch Sitta castanea 160 Indian Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi 161 Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus 162 Indian Pitta Pitta brachyura

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163 Indian Pond-Heron Ardeola grayii 164 Indian Robin Copsychus fulicatus 165 Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis 166 Indian Scimitar-Babbler Pomatorhinus horsfieldii 167 Indian Scops-Owl Otus bakkamoena 168 Indian Silverbill (White-throated Munia) Euodice malabarica 169 Indian Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha 170 Indian Spotted Eagle Clanga hastata 171 Indian Swiftlet Aerodramus unicolor 172 Indian Thick-knee (Indian Stone-curlew) Burhinus indicus 173 Indian Tit (Indian Black-lored Tit) Machlolophus aplonotus 174 Indian/Eastern Jungle Crow (Large-billed Crow) Corvus macrorhynchos 175 Intermediate Egret Ardea intermedia 176 Jerdon's Bushlark Mirafra affinis 177 Jerdon's Leafbird (Jerdon's Chloropsis) Chloropsis jerdoni 178 Jerdon's Nightjar Caprimulgus atripennis 179 Turdoides striata 180 Jungle Bush-Quail Perdicula asiatica 181 Jungle Myna Acridotheres fuscus 182 Jungle Nightjar (Indian Jungle Nightjar) Caprimulgus indicus 183 Jungle Owlet Glaucidium radiatum 184 Jungle Prinia Prinia sylvatica 185 Kashmir Flycatcher Ficedula subrubra 186 Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus 187 Large Cuckooshrike Coracina macei 188 Large Grey Babbler Turdoides malcolmi 189 Large-billed Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus magnirostris 190 Laughing Dove (Little Brown Dove) Streptopelia senegalensis 191 Legge's Hawk-Eagle Nisaetus kelaarti 192 Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis 193 Lesser Fish-Eagle Haliaeetus humilis 194 Lesser Sand-Plover Charadrius mongolus 195 Lesser Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna javanica 196 Lesser Yellownape Picus chlorolophus 197 Little Cormorant Microcarbo niger 198 Little Egret Egretta garzetta 199 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis 200 Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius 201 Little Spiderhunter Arachnothera longirostra 202 Little Stint Calidris minuta 203 Little Swift (Indian House Swift) Apus affinis 204 Little Tern Sternula albifrons

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205 Long-billed Sunbird (Loten's Sunbird) Cinnyris lotenius 206 Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach 207 Malabar Barbet (Crimson-throated Barbet) Psilopogon malabaricus 208 Malabar Grey Hornbill Ocyceros griseus 209 Malabar Lark Galerida malabarica 210 Malabar Parakeet (Blue-winged Parakeet) Psittacula columboides 211 Malabar Starling (Blyth’s Starling) Sturnia blythii 212 Malabar Whistling-Thrush Myophonus horsfieldii 213 Malabar Woodshrike Tephrodornis sylvicola 214 Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis 215 Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus 216 Mottled Wood-Owl Strix ocellata 217 Mountain Imperial-Pigeon Ducula badia 218 Nilgiri Blue Robin Sholicola major 219 Nilgiri Flowerpecker Dicaeum concolor 220 Nilgiri Flycatcher albicaudatus 221 Nilgiri Laughingthrush Montecincla cachinnans 222 Nilgiri Thrush Zoothera neilgherriensis 223 Northern Pintail Anas acuta 224 Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata 225 Orange Minivet Pericrocotus flammeus 226 Orange-headed Thrush Geokichla citrina 227 Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster 228 Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis 229 Oriental Scops-Owl Otus sunia 230 Oriental Skylark Alauda gulgula 231 Oriental Turtle-Dove Streptopelia orientalis 232 Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus 233 Osprey Pandion haliaetus 234 Pacific Golden-Plover Pluvialis fulva 235 Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus 236 Paddyfield Warbler Acrocephalus agricola 237 Painted Spurfowl Galloperdix lunulata 238 Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala 239 Palani Laughingthrush Montecincla fairbanki 240 Pale-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum erythrorhynchos 241 Pallas's Gull Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus 242 Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus 243 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 244 Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus 245 Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta 246 Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata

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247 Pied Cuckoo () Clamator jacobinus 248 Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis 249 Plain Prinia Prinia inornata 250 Plum-headed Parakeet Psittacula cyanocephala 251 Puff-throated Babbler Pellorneum ruficeps 252 Purple Heron Ardea purpurea 253 Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus 254 Purple-rumped Sunbird Leptocoma zeylonica 255 Red Avadavat Amandava amandava 256 Red Collared-Dove (Red Turtle-Dove) Streptopelia tranquebarica 257 Red Spurfowl Galloperdix spadicea 258 Red-headed Vulture Sarcogyps calvus 259 Red-naped Ibis (Indian Black Ibis) Pseudibis papillosa 260 Red-necked Falcon Falco chicquera 261 Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica 262 Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer 263 Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus 264 Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus 265 Richard's Pipit Anthus richardi 266 River Tern Sterna aurantia 267 Rock Eagle-Owl (Indian Eagle-Owl) Bubo bengalensis 268 Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri 269 Rosy Starling Pastor roseus 270 Ruddy Shelduck (Brahminy Duck) Tadorna ferruginea 271 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres 272 Ruddy-breasted Crake Zapornia fusca 273 Ruff Calidris pugnax 274 Rufous Babbler Turdoides subrufa 275 Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda 276 Rufous Woodpecker Micropternus brachyurus 277 Rufous-tailed Lark Ammomanes phoenicura 278 Rusty-tailed Flycatcher Ficedula ruficauda 279 Sanderling Calidris alba 280 Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis 281 Savanna Nightjar Caprimulgus affinis 282 Scaly-breasted Munia (Spotted Munia) Lonchura punctulata 283 Shikra Accipiter badius 284 Short-toed Snake-Eagle Circaetus gallicus 285 Sirkeer Malkoha Taccocua leschenaultii 286 Slaty-breasted Rail Gallirallus striatus 287 Slender-billed Gull Chroicocephalus genei 288 Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus

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289 Small Pratincole Glareola lactea 290 Southern Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis 291 Southern Hill Myna Gracula indica 292 Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis 293 Spot-breasted Fantail (White-spotted Fantail) Rhipidura albogularis 294 Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis 295 Spotted Owlet Athene brama 296 Square-tailed Bulbul (Black Bulbul) Hypsipetes ganeesa 297 Stork-billed Kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis 298 Streaked Weaver Ploceus manyar 299 Streak-throated Swallow Petrochelidon fluvicola 300 Streak-throated Woodpecker Picus xanthopygaeus 301 Striated Heron (Little Heron) Butorides striata 302 Sykes's Short-toed Lark Calandrella dukhunensis 303 Sykes's Warbler Iduna rama 304 Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris 305 Tawny-bellied Babbler Dumetia hyperythra 306 Temminck's Stint Calidris temminckii 307 Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus 308 Thick-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum agile 309 Thick-billed Warbler Iduna aedon 310 Tickell's Blue Flycatcher Cyornis tickelliae 311 Tickell's Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus affinis 312 Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis 313 Tricolored Munia (Black-headed Munia) Lonchura malacca 314 Velvet-fronted Nuthatch Sitta frontalis 315 Verditer Flycatcher Eumyias thalassinus 316 Vernal Hanging-Parrot (Indian Lorikeet) Loriculus vernalis 317 Watercock Gallicrex cinerea 318 Western Reef-Heron (Western Reef-Egret) Egretta gularis 319 Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava 320 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus 321 Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida 322 White Wagtail Motacilla alba 323 White-bellied Blue Flycatcher Cyornis pallipes 324 White-bellied Blue Robin Sholicola albiventris 325 White-bellied Drongo Dicrurus caerulescens 326 White-bellied Sea-Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster 327 White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus 328 White-browed Bulbul Pycnonotus luteolus 329 White-browed Fantail Rhipidura aureola 330 White-browed Wagtail (Large Pied Wagtail) Motacilla maderaspatensis

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331 White-cheeked Barbet (Small Green Barbet) Psilopogon viridis 332 White-eyed Buzzard Butastur teesa 333 White-naped Woodpecker Chrysocolaptes festivus 334 White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata 335 White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus 336 White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis 337 White-tailed Iora (Marshall's Iora) Aegithina nigrolutea 338 White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis 339 Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii 340 Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola 341 Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus 342 Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis 343 Yellow-billed Babbler Turdoides affinis 344 Yellow-browed Bulbul Iole indica 345 Yellow-crowned Woodpecker Dendrocopos mahrattensis 346 Yellow-eyed Babbler Chrysomma sinense 347 Yellow-footed Pigeon (Yellow-footed Green-Pigeon) Treron phoenicopterus 348 Yellow-throated Bulbul Pycnonotus xantholaemus 349 Yellow-wattled Lapwing Vanellus malabaricus 350 Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis

Black-bellied Plover by Raveendran Natarajan from Dhanushkodi, Ramanathapuram District (13th January 2018) https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S42084192

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Annexure 2. Top 5 species reported in districts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during PBC 2018. Districts with only one list are not given here.

Ariyalur 126 Species 18 Lists Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus 78 % Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 72 % Eastern/Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 72 % Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis 72 % Blyth's Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum 61 %

Chennai 113 Species 86 Lists House Crow Corvus splendens 78 % Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri 66 % Indian Pond-Heron Ardeola grayii 60 % White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis 56 % Purple-rumped Sunbird Leptocoma zeylonica 53 %

Coimbatore 250 Species 322 Lists Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis 52 % Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus 48 % Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis 40 % Jungle Myna Acridotheres fuscus 38 % House Crow Corvus splendens 37 %

Cuddalore 64 Species 26 Lists Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus 58 % House Crow Corvus splendens 50 % Indian Pond-Heron Ardeola grayii 50 % Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 46 % White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis 46 %

Dharmapuri 86 Species 19 Lists Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 63 % Indian Robin Copsychus fulicatus 53 % Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer 53 % Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus 47 % House Crow Corvus splendens 47 %

Dindigul 135 Species 25 Lists Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus 56 % Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 52 % House Crow Corvus splendens 52 % Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer 40 % Eastern/Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 36 %

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Erode 67 Species 25 Lists Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 84 % Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri 84 % Yellow-billed Babbler Turdoides affinis 76 % Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius 64 % House Sparrow Passer domesticus 64 %

Kancheepuram 152 Species 74 Lists House Crow Corvus splendens 80 % Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 69 % Indian Pond-Heron Ardeola grayii 69 % Little Cormorant Microcarbo niger 62 % White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis 62 %

Karur 23 Species 8 Lists Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 50 % Eastern/Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 50 % Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus 38 % Indian/Eastern Jungle Crow (Large-billed Crow) Corvus macrorhynchos 38 % Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus 25 %

Madurai 124 Species 29 Lists House Crow Corvus splendens 86 % Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus 79 % Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus 76 % Asian Palm-Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis 72 % Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 72 %

Nagappattinam 57 Species 32 Lists Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus 53 % White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis 53 % Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 47 % Common Hawk-Cuckoo Hierococcyx varius 44 % Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus 41 %

Namakkal 26 Species 3 Lists Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis 67 % Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 67 % Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer 67 % Yellow-billed Babbler Turdoides affinis 67 % Asian Palm-Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis 33 %

Puducherry 98 Species 47 Lists Indian Pond-Heron Ardeola grayii 81 % Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus 72 % Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus 70 % Asian Palm-Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis 66 % Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus 64 % 17

Pudukkottai 130 Species 163 Lists Asian Palm-Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis 62 % Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis 53 % Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus 50 % Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 49 % Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus 45 %

Ramanathapuram 92 Species 7 Lists Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus 100 % Brown-headed Gull Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus 100 % Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia 100 % Great Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii 100 % Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis 100 %

Salem 142 Species 324 Lists House Crow Corvus splendens 69 % Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 64 % Indian/Eastern Jungle Crow (Large-billed Crow) Corvus macrorhynchos 49 % Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri 40 % Asian Palm-Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis 40 %

Sivaganga 69 Species 11 Lists Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus 91 % Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri 82 % Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 73 % House Crow Corvus splendens 55 % Indian Pond-Heron Ardeola grayii 55 %

Thanjavur 103 Species 21 Lists Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 67 % Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus 62 % Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer 57 % Indian Pond-Heron Ardeola grayii 48 % Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda 48 %

The Nilgiris 150 Species 31 Lists Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus 65 % Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus 55 % Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis 48 % Brahminy Starling Sturnia pagodarum 39 % Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides 39 %

Theni 117 Species 4 Lists Asian Palm-Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis 75 % Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus 75 % Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus 75 % Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 75 % 18

Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius 75 %

Thiruvallur 76 Species 19 Lists House Crow Corvus splendens 58 % Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius 53 % Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 47 % Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri 47 % Purple-rumped Sunbird Leptocoma zeylonica 42 %

Thiruvarur 112 Species 15 Lists Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus 73 % Blyth's Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum 73 % Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 73 % Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri 73 % Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus 67 %

Thoothukkudi 108 Species 19 Lists Little Egret Egretta garzetta 68 % Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 58 % Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 47 % Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus 47 % House Crow Corvus splendens 47 %

Tiruchirappalli 93 Species 48 Lists Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus 38 % House Crow Corvus splendens 38 % Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer 35 % Asian Palm-Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis 33 % Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 33 %

Tirunelveli 89 Species 20 Lists Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus 70 % Eastern/Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 65 % Indian Pond-Heron Ardeola grayii 65 % Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 60 % Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus 50 %

Tiruppur 171 Species 205 Lists House Crow Corvus splendens 58 % Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 55 % House Sparrow Passer domesticus 38 % Little Egret Egretta garzetta 35 % Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri 33 %

Tiruvannamalai 110 Species 64 Lists House Crow Corvus splendens 41 % Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri 38 % Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 36 % Indian Pond-Heron Ardeola grayii 31 % 19

Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer 31 %

Vellore 81 Species 22 Lists Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius 59 % Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer 59 % Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 50 % White-browed Bulbul Pycnonotus luteolus 50 % House Crow Corvus splendens 45 %

Viluppuram 118 Species 25 Lists Asian Palm-Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis 72 % White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis 68 % Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus 64 % Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 64 % Indian Pond-Heron Ardeola grayii 64 %

Virudunagar 68 Species 19 lists Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer 58 % Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus 47 % Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 47 % House Crow Corvus splendens 47 % Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus 47 %

White-tailed Iora by Shanmugam Kalidass from Kalipalayam, Tiruppur District. (16th January 2018) https://ebird.org/india/view/checklist/S41959012

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Annexure 3: Full list of participants of PBC 2018 A

ABHISHEK GOPAL, ALAN TRAUTMANN, AM AMSA, AMOL MANDE, ANBARASAN SANGEETHA, ARAVIND AMIRTHARAJ, ARUL PARADISE, ARULVELAN THILLAINAYAGAM, ARUN M, ARUN VENKATARAMANAN, ASHISH GUPTA, ASHISH JHA

B

BADRI NARAYANAN THIAGARAJAN, BALA BHARATHI, BALAJI P B, BHARATH KUMAR, BHARATHIDASAN SUBBIAH, BHAVI K, BULBUL MURUGES

C

CHANDAN MANGHNANI, CHERAN J, CHETAN HARIKISHANDAS JOSHI, CINCHONA GOVT HIGH SCHOOL(GROUP ACCOUNT), CNS NATURE

D

DANIVAL SANTHOSH,DIVYA MUDAPPA,DIVYA SUBRAMANI,DIVYAPRIYA CHANDRASEKARAN,DR GUNALAN, DRUVA MURALI,DURAIRAJU RAMASAMY,DURAISWAMY NAVANEETHAM

E

ELANGOVAN VISVANATHAN, ELAVARASAN M

F

FRENCH BIRDS (GROUP ACCOUNT),

G

GANAPATHY SIVAPIRAGASAM, GANESHWAR SV, GHSS ARASUR,GNANASKANDAN KESAVABHARATHI,GNANITH, GOWTHAM RAM

H

HAMSIA KANI, HARI KUMAR, HARSHJEET BAL,

I

IBIS ANDRIL (GROUP ACCOUNT), ILAN RAJASEKARAN, ILANGO K

J

JAIGANESH BALAKRISHNAN, JAYALALITHA PAGADALA, JEBAMALAI MICHAEL AUGUSTINE SANTIAGO, JEEVA VARUTHARAJ, JEYARAJ AATHI, JOE M RAJA, JOHN JOSEPH CHELLADURAI, JOHN RAVINDRAN

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K

KALAIMANI AYUTHAVEL, M KARTHIKAYAN, V.KALAISELVAN,P.U.P.SCHOOL, KINGSLEY DAVID, NEERMULLIKUTTAI,SALEM., KALYAN VARMA, KARAN CHELLAPPA, KARTHICK VS, KARTHIKEYAN G B, KARTHIKEYAN PONNAMBALAMOORTHY, KAVI NILAVU, KRISHNAKUMAR K IYER, KRISHNAMOORTHY MUTHIRULAN, KRISHNAMPUDUR SCHOOL STUDENTS (GROUP ACCOUNT), KRISHNAVENI

L

LINDA RACIOPPI, LINGARAJA VENKATESH,

M

MAGESH RAM, MILA SAJEEV, MOHAMED SALMAN, MOHAMMED HIRASH, MOHAMMED SALEEM, MONIKA GANDHI, MRINALINI SIDDHARTHA, MUTHU DHIVAKAR, MUTHU NARAYANAN

N

NALINI ARAVIND, NANDHAKUMAR RADHAKRISHNAN, NEETHI VDS, NITHILA DEVI NALLASAMY, NITYA SREE, NOOR ASADULLAH,

P

P.U.M.SCHOOL THALAVAIPATTY GENERAL ACCOUNT, PANCHAPAKESAN JEGANATHAN, PARIPOORANAM KATHAVARAYAN, PARTHASARATHY THIRUMALAI, PAVANASAM VELAYUTHAM, PAVITHIRA KUMAR, PERIYASAMY RAJANGAM, POOJA PAWAR, PRABHAKARAN MARUTHAI, PRAKASH G, PRAKASH KUNNATH, PRASANNA MANIVANNAN, PRATHAP RAMASAMY, PRAVEEN KUMAR, PRAVEEN MANIVANNAN, PRAVIN SHANMUGHANANDAM, PRITHIVI RAJ S, PRIYA RAJENDRAN, PRIYATHARSINI RAJENDRAN

R

RAJ ELANGOV, RAJA SIMMA PANDIYAN, DR. RAVI M, RAJANNA VENKATRAMAN,RAJARAJAN V, RAJASEKARAN PERIYASAMY, RAJESH KUMAR, RAJESH M, RAMA NARAYANAN, RAMA NEELAMEGAM, RAMESH DESAI, RAMESHWARAN HOOPOE, RAMIT SINGAL, RAMMANOHAR B, RAMRAJ S, RAPHY KALLETTUMKARA, RAV SRINIVAS, RAVEENDRAN KC, RAVEENDRAN NATARAJAN, RENUKA VIJAYARAGHAVAN, ROHIT PANSARE

S

SACHDEEP S, G SURESH, SADHASIVAM DHAMU, SALEM NATURE & WILDLIFE TRUST SNWT, SALEM ORNITHOLOGICAL FOUNDATION (GROUP ACCOUNT), SANTHARAM V, SARAVANAN DHANDAPANI, SATHEESH MUTHU GOPAL B, SATHIA MOORTHY, SATHYA KUMAR, SATHYA NARAYANAN, SATHYA PANCHAPAKESAN, SEKAR VINCENT, SELVAGANESH K, SELVARAJ RANGASAMY, SENTHIL VEERASAMY, SHAN MUGAM, SHANKAR SHRIJAN, SHANMUGAM KALIDASS, SHEEBA NANJAN, SHERMAN GARNETT, SHREYA RAY, SIDDHARTH S, SIDHARTH SRINIVASAN, SIVA T, SIVAKUMAR RAMASAMY, SIVAKUMAR S, SIVAKUMAR SS, SREEKUMAR K GOVINDANKUTTY, SREENIVASAN K, SRINIVASAN VASAN, STEPHAN LORENZ, SUBHASHINI SIVASUBRAMANIAN, SUBRAMANIA SIVA, SUBRAMANIAN R, SUBRAMANIAN

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RAJAPANDIAN, SUGUNA R, SUJITH VERGHIS, SUNDAR K, SUNDAR PALANIVELU, SURENDHAR BOOBALAN, SUSY VARUGHESE, SWARNA RAVISHANKAR, SYED ABDUL KADHAR, T R SHANKAR RAMAN

T

TAMIL SELVAN A, TAMILBIRDS (GROUP ACCOUNT), TANMAY JAIN, TARACHAND WANVARI, THE POLLACHI PAPYRUS, THEIVAPRAKASHAM HARI, THIRUMOORTHY N V,

V

VADIVUKKARASI A, VARUN ALAGAR SURENDRAN, VASEN SULI, VENKATRAMAN RAJAMANICKAM, VIDHYA SWAMINATHAN, VIGNESHWARAN B, VIJAYKUMAR KRISHNAMURTHY, VIJI G, VINOBA ANAND, VINODH KAMBALATHARA, VISHAL SHANMUGASUNDARAM, VISHNU C S, VISHNU SANKAR, VIVEK PULIYERI, VIVEK SUDHAKARAN

W

WAR RAJAPALAYAM (GROUP ACCOUNT), WILL YANDIK, WILLIAM COOK

Y

YOGESWARIE SREEDHARAN

Sykes's Short-toed Lark by Renuka Vijayaraghavan from Walayar Dam, Coimbatore District (15th January 2018). https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S41946473

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Press coverage

Here are a few of the articles published on PBC 2018 in local newspapers.

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Pongal Bird Count 2018 Media Coverage

3th January 2018 Dinamalar - : 13 http://www.dinamalar.com/news_detail.asp?id=1931649

10 January 2018 Dinamalar – மாநில அளவில் பறவவகள் கணக்கக翁ப்ꯁ பணி http://epaper.dinamalar.com/PUBLICATIONS/DM/COIMBATORE/2018/01/10/ArticleHtmls/1001201 8270017.shtml?Mode=1

11 January 2018 Times of India- 4-day Pongal bird count to begin on January 13 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/4-day-pongal-bird-count-to-begin-on-january- 13/articleshow/62452910.cms

11 January 2018 Adayar Times - Pongal Special – Readers share their experience – Interview with Vikas Madhav http://www.adyartimes.in/atepaperpongalissue/

11 January 2018 The Hindu, Metro Plus - Greet the birds this Pongal! Link here

11 January 2018 The Hindu, Counting on the avian enthusiasts http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/puducherry/counting-on-the-avian- enthusiasts/article22423103.ece

12 January 2018 Dinamani - தினமணி - கபாங்கல் பறவவகள் கணக்கக翁ப்ꯁ நாவள கதாடக்கம் (ꯁ鏁ச்சே쎿) Link here and here

13 January 2018 The Hindu – Metro Plus – Pongal Bird Count http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/pongal-bird- count/article22433903.ece

13 January 2018 தி ஹிந்鏁– பறவவக쿁டன் ஒ쏁 கபாங்கல் http://tamil.thehindu.com/general/environment/article22434773.ece

13 January 2018 Dinamani - தினமணி - (Link here)

14 January 2018 The Hindu (Tiruchirapalli) - Counting the avian population (Link here)

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Flyers shared and distributed for PBC 2018 publicity

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Illustration by Rohit Bhasi

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Facebook page of Pongal Bird Count https://www.facebook.com/pongalbirdcount/

A WhatsApp Group (Temporary) created to communicate and share various events/sightings during this PBC 2018

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Pongal Bird Count 2018 was coordinated by TamilBirds and Bird Count India and its various partners. For more information, see the following links:

Tamilbirds - in.groups.yahoo.com/group/Tamilbirds/

Bird Count India - http://www.birdcount.in/

Join the Facebook group -(https://www.facebook.com/groups/birdcountindia/)

Pongal Bird Count http://www.birdcount.in/events/pongal-bird-count/

Contact Bird Count India at [email protected] eBird - eBird India (http://ebird.org/ebird/country/IN/)

Pongal Bird Count 2018 Report prepared and compiled by P. Jeganathan.

Front Cover Illustration by Rohit Bhasi Front and back cover Kolam (Rangoli) by Vidhya Sundar

Slaty-breasted Rail by Karthikeyan Ponnambalamoorthy from Pallikaranai Marshland, Chennai (15th January 2018). https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S41923607 33

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