During the Heronry Count 2025, more than 1,000 water bird nests, an annual initiative for civil sciences, which were recently performed in the Thiruvananthapuram district, were recorded.
The survey was organized by WWF-India to identify and map all active herons throughout the district. It has documented nesting colonies of waterfowl, including colonies of herons, herons and cormorants that are vital indicators of the health of the wetland ecosystem.
Only 30 out of 36 known herons in the district were found active. A total of 1,070 nests of seven bird species were recorded.
The species of the observed nesting were purple herons, an Indian heron pond, a small cormoror, an Indian cormorant, an oriental darter, black and small heron and a small Egret.
Among them, the Indian pond Heron had the highest number of nests (750 nests), followed by Little Egret (118).
In addition to the location of nesting sites, the survey was also documented species of trees used for nesting and assessed the predominant nesting stages observed in every place.
On the wetlands of Pazhanchira, purple herons were seen nesting on the Indian plum tree, a divert from the usual nesting sites of reed beds and tall grasses.
Vishinjam, one of the oldest known herons in the district, recorded the highest number of nest and nesting trees, with a total of 192 nests, especially the calling herons, black night beautiful herons and small herons.
Another prominent Heronries were in Kumarichantha with 127 nests, Vemmod with 106, Venniyoor with 74, Vembayam S 56, Passala with 53 and Shinkaratpu with 51 nests. Trees such as Copperpod, Rain Tree, Indian Almond, Indian Hog Plum, Ceylon Olive, Mango, Jamun, Bambus, Indian Laurel, Mahagon, Tamarind, Guava, Jackfruit, Banyan and Indian mast mostly hosted mostly.
Access to a field survey based on cluster was admitted to ensure comprehensive coverage in all terrains. In the fields of the teams, they used the application for digital data collection in real time and geotagged heronry location. They observed activities such as the nest building, strengthening, threshing, hatching of chickens and edging.
The team members then communicated with local people, authorickshaw drivers, street sellers and shop owners to collect feedback. Most of them saw birds’ nesting as a sign of a healthy environment. Some concerns were also raised about birds’ droppings in busy public areas. The inhabitants of Vishinjam said that monkeys often attacked Heronries and consumed eggs, a natural predation that was a threat to a nesting success.
A slightly more than 50% of the famous Herons of the district is located within the city of Thiruvananthapuram, emphasizing the potential of cities to support the prosperous bird population.
Faculty and students from IQBAL College, Peringamala; Mar Ivanios College, Lalanchira; and MG College, Kesavadasapuram and members of the local community participated in the number.
Furthermore, WWF-India will publish a comprehensive report at the district level with the recommendations of protection at the forest department of Keraral and the local self-governing institutions. Special programs and initiatives will also be carried out in cooperation with universities and local communities.
Published – July 22, 2025 21:07
