Can nuclear power plant be a bird sanctuary?yes!

CAN A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT BE A BIRD SANCTUARY ?

Our little efforts to preserve our nature……

POWERING THE FUTURE WITH ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMMEUnder the ESP, a nature club at each NPCIL site has been setup and named after a threatened bird of that area. Members of these clubs actively organize and participate in various activities from nature watch to public awareness campaigns, butterfly surveys to bird marathons, habitat improvement to nature conservation

THE ENTIRE STUDY WAS CONDUCTED INTHREE PHASES, FROM THE YEAR 2008 TO 2010,ALMOST SAME SEASON EVERY YEAR (JANUARY28 IN 2008, AND JANUARY 21 IN 2009 AND2010) TO COLLECT REPRESENTATIVE ANDRELIABLE DATA.

Study of wetlands and other habitats

AREAS AS PER THE LAID-DOWN PROCEDURE

CENSUS OF BIRDS AS PER THENORMS

Introduction

NPCIL has launched its Environment Stewardship Programme (ESP) in 2006, a voluntary initiative, with a mission to preserve the environment, particularly the environs of its nuclear plant sites.

The programme, which is beyond the regulatory and statutory fulfillments, focuses on the scientific studies on bio-diversity, improvement of habitat and conservation of nature within and around the exclusion zones of Indian Nuclear Power Plants.

A report on capacity building workshop on scientific methods for bird monitoring and habitat management

The workshop

A capacity building workshop on scientific methods for bird monitoring and habitat management for the members of Neithal Nature Club and trainees of MAPS has been organised during August 29 to 30, 2013 at Environment Survey Laboratory (ESL) in Kalpakkam.

This two-days programme was organised in association with Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) as a part of NPCIL's Environment Stewardship Prgoramme (ESP) with an idea to train the members of nature club and NPCIL trainees in bird monitoring and habitat management.

NPCIL is really very active in environment conservation. The studies carried out under ESP are very useful in nature conservation. Particularly the study results of wetlands and waterbirds in and around MAPS and KKNPP helped to know the status of wetlands and the waterbirds. For instance, the study of wetlands near KKNPP revealed that the Common Coot (a waterbird), which once found only in northern India, was distributed widely, almost at all waterbodies, in the southern part of the country.

Another good example for the efforts made by NPCIL for environment is KKNPP site. Kudankulam once considered a rain shadow region is now a place which has lush environment. NPCIL in association with professional agencies developed the greenbelt which is home to several species. This workshop will be very useful for conservation and to develop more volunteers. Because, we need more and more volunteers who can help conserve the environment. - Dr. Balachandran, Dy. Director, Bombay Natural History Society

KAIGA GENERATING STATION (KGS) HAS BEEN ORGANIZING KAIGA BIRD MARATHON, AN ANNUAL BIRDING EVENT SINCE 2011 UNDER THE AEGIS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM OF NUCLEAR POWER CORPORATION OF INDIA LIMITED WITH THE AIM OF IDENTIFYING BIRD SPECIES AROUND KAIGA GENERATING STATIONS AND KAIGA TOWNSHIP.

Kaiga Bird Marathon – 2014 Kaiga – Mallapur 14th January 2014

This year “Kaiga Bird Marathon-2014” was organized on 12th January 2014. Bird watchers and birding enthusiasts, one hundred and twelve in number, from Hubli, Bangalore, Udupi, Manipal, Hospet, Sirsi, Calicut and Mumbai participated in the event. Professional birders from North Karnataka Birders Network (NKBN), Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Coastal Karnataka Birders Network (CKBN) and students from College of Forestry, Sirsi also took part in the event apart from nature enthusiasts working in NPCIL head quarters and Stations (Kaiga Generating station, Koodankulam Atomic Power station, Tarapur Atomic Power Station, Kakrapar Atomic power stations and Kalpakkam Atomic Power Station).

The area in and around Kaiga was divided into eight transects. Each team had to travel through their allotted transect of 6-7 Km and record all aquatic, wetland, grassland, raptors and passerine birds sighted by them. All the data collected by these teams has been compiled and analyzed by the organizers. The total number of bird species identified in this region has increased to 227 species with the identification of 14 more species this year. This year’s bird marathon alone has identified 180 species of birds as compared to 162 species identified last year. This year during Kaiga Bird Marathon, the 14 new species which have been identified include Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus), Eurasian collared dove (Streptopelia decaocto), Common rose finch (Carpodacus erythrinus), Rufous tailed lark (Ammomanes phoenicura), Black napped monarch (Hypothymis azurea)

NUCLEAR POWER CORPORATION OFINDIA LIMITED (NPCIL), UNDERITS ENVIRONMENT STEWARDSHIPPROGRAMME (ESP), HAS BEEN CARRYINGOUT SEVERAL ENVIRONMENT CONSERVATIONACTIVITIES IN COLLABORATION WITH BOMBAYNATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY (BNHS) ANDOTHER NGOS. MONITORING OF WETLANDS,FORESTS, AND OTHER HABITATS AND ITSDEVELOPMENT ARE PART OF THE PROGRAMME.SEVERAL SCIENTIFIC STUDIES ON BIODIVERSITY,PARTICULARLY AVIFAUNA, ARE BEING DONEREGULARLY UNDER THIS UNIQUE INITIATIVE BYNPCIL.

Survey of Important Bird Areas andCensus of Birds

HEAD COUNT METHOD OF COUNTING FORBIRDS WAS ADOPTED WHEN THE NUMBER OFBIRDS WAS SMALL. OTHER METHODS LIKESIMPLE COUNT METHOD, CALL COUNT,TERRITORY MAPPING, VISUAL OBSERVATIONAND SAMPLING TECHNIQUES WERE USED TOESTIMATE WHEN THE BIRDS WERE IN GREATERNUMBERS.IN GENERAL, THE CENSUS OF WETLANDBIRDS WAS CARRIED OUT AS PER THE AWCNORMS.A LIST OF POTENTIAL THREATS TO WETLANDSWAS PREPARED IN ADVANCE AND EACHTHREAT WAS ASSESSED. THREATS OTHER THANTHE LISTED ONES WERE ALSO CONSIDEREDAND EVALUATED.BESIDES, GPS DATA WAS COLLECTED FOREACH SITE THE TEAM VISITED, INCLUDINGROUTING TO GET ACCURATE CO-ORDINATES OFTHE SITES AND TRACKS. A HIGH-QUALITYDIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY CAMERA, WITHTELEPHOTO AND WIDE-ANGLE LENSES, WASUSED TO CARRY OUT PHOTOGRAPHY.

THE SANCTUARY IS LOCATED ABOUT 86KM SOUTH OF CHENNAI CITY AND 10 KMSOUTH OF KARIKILI BIRD SANCTAURY INMADURANTAKAM TALUK. IT IS ANIMPORTANT BIRD AREA (IBA) ALONG WITHITS SISTER SITE VEDANTHANGAL. ITCOMPRISES TWO RAIN-FED NON-PERENNIALIRRIGATION TANKS OWNED BY THE STATEGOVERNMENT’S PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

M O N I T O R I N G A N D C O N S E R VAT I O N

Karikili Bird SanctuaryCo-ordinates: 12º36’04” N 79º 50’ 50” ESurvey CountYear 2008 2009 2010Total Count 6250 200 150

Karikili Bird Sanctuary is aprotected wetland of 61.21 hectares(about 151.26 acres). Being a protectedsite, there is hardly any visible threatto the site but we suspect the possibilityof some grazing, especially duringthe dry period when the tank is eitherdry or has very low water levels. Thetanks have growth of Barringtoniahortenisis and Acacia nilotica. Weobserved some construction work beingcarried out to reinforce the western-sidebund with stonework when we visitedthe site in January 2008. The work wascompleted when we visited thesanctuary again in 2009.

SEVERAL SPECIES OF BIRDS, PARTICULARLYSPOT-BILLED PELICAN, LARGE CORMORANT,MEDIAN EGRET, CATTLE EGRET, PONDHERON, NIGHT HERON, PAINTED STORK,ASIAN OPENBILL ETC., HAVE BEEN REPORTEDTO BE NESTING AT THIS SITE (SUBRAMANYAS. 2005). IT HAS BEEN POSSIBLE DUE TOTHE PROTECTED NATURE OF THE WETLAND ANDAVAILABILITY OF ADEQUATE FOOD. IN THEYEAR 2008, THE RAINS IN THE MONTH OFMARCH PROVIDED ENOUGH WATER LEVEL INKARIKILI AND VEDANTHANGAL BIRDSANCTUARIES, LEADING TO A SECOND CYCLEOF BREEDING OF SOME SPECIES, VIZ., LARGECORMORANT AND ORIENTAL DARTER(P. OPPILI, 2008).

Karikili Bird Sanctuaries

In the year 2008, we observed about 6000 to 6500 birds belonging to over 40 species. We observed 80 individuals of Spot-billed Pelicans at the sanctuary. It was reported by Mr. Murugan, stationed at the sanctuary, that the population ofBlack-crowned Night-heron has beenincreasing steadily. But, when we visitedthe site a year after, i.e., in 2009 winter,we were quite a bit shakento observe that only about 200birds of 12 species were seen. Even inthe next winter (2010) we witnessedonly about 150 birds.One of the major reasons for thediscarding of the site could be the lowwater level in the tank due to less rainfall.

Karikili and Vedanthangal birdsanctuaries, leading to a second cycleof breeding of some species

VEDANTHANGAL BIRD SANCTUARY INMADURANTAGAM TALUK OF KANCHEEPURAMDISTRICT IS ABOUT 82 KMSOUTHWEST OF CHENNAI AND CAN BEREACHED BY THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY NO.45. IT IS ABOUT 48 KM INLAND FROM THEBAY OF BENGAL. IT IS A RAIN-FED SEASONALWETLAND THAT ALSO RECEIVES WATER FROMTHE OVERFLOW OF THE NEAREST LAKES.VEDANTHANGAL BIRD SANCTUARY IS ASMALL, BUT ONE OF THE OLDEST SANCTUARIESIN THE COUNTRY. LIKE MANY OTHER PLACES,THE SUCCESS STORY OF THE VEDANTHANGALBIRD SANCTUARY BEGAN WITH THE LOCALVILLAGERS PROTECTING THE SANCTUARY FORCENTURIES. IN FACT, THE VILLAGERS PROPOSEDTO THE AUTHORITIES TO PROVIDE PROTECTIONTO THE AREA IN THE YEAR

Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary

Vedanthangal Bird SanctuaryCo-ordinates: 12º32’80” N 79º 51’ 17” ESurvey CountYear 2008 2009 2010Survey Count 25000 27000 25300

LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES:PAINTED STORK – NTSPOT-BILLED PELICAN– NTORIENTAL DARTER – NTAREA-WISE, VEDANTHANGAL IS A VERYSMALL SANCTUARY – JUST ABOUT 30 HECTARESOR ABOUT 72 ACRES, BUT A LARGE NUMBEROF BIRDS ARE ATTRACTED TOWARDS IT, MAKINGIT ONE OF THE THICKLY-POPULATEDSANCTUARIES.

Being a protected wetland, it doesnot face many of the threats that otherunprotected wetlands face in the area,like hunting, encroachment, dumpingof garbage, etc. Two sides of thewetland are protected by a bund, butthe other two sides are open and makethe sanctuary vulnerable tounauthorised entry of humans and thecattle grazing.A large amount of bird droppings,rich in phosphorous, in the small areaof tank make its water turbid andconvert it into liquid guano.

THE AUTHOR IS THANKFUL TO THEMANAGEMENT OF NPCIL FORCONCEPTUALIZING, LAUNCHING ANDSUPPORTING THE ESP PROGRAMME, AND TOLATE SHRI. A.I. SIDDIQUI WHO INITIATEDTHE ESP ACTIVITIES AND TOOK GREATPERSONAL INTEREST IN IT. HE ALSO PARTLYPARTICIPATED IN THE STUDY. THE AUTHOR ISDEEPLY THANKFUL TO THE NATURE CLUBMEMBERS OF MAPS, TO THE FIELD EXPERTS OF BNHS AND TO THE MEMBERS OF THESANCTUARIES FOR THEIR UNTIRING SUPPORT.

Acknowledgements

Thank you

Can a nuclear power plant be a bird sanctuary?Yes!!