A white-bellied sea eagle at its nesting ground in Kannur. | Photo credit: special arrangement
The annual sea eagle nest survey recorded 17 active nesting sites in Kannur and Kasaragod districts this season, a slight increase from the 13 sites documented in 2024.
The survey, jointly conducted by the Malabar Wildlife Awareness and Rescue Center (MARC) and Kannur and Kasaragod Social Forestry Divisions, was led by Dr. Roshnath Ramesh of MARC, Rajeevan M., Assistant Conservator of Forests, Kannur Division of Social Forestry, and Jose Mathew, Assistant Conservator of Forests, Kasaragod Social.
Despite the improvement, officials said the current value remained below historical levels. Records from 1996 showed 25 active breeding sites, indicating that the population had yet to fully recover.
Dr. Ramesh said that of the 17 sites identified this year, 10 were in Kasaragod district and seven in Kannur. In Kasaragod, all nests were categorized as old, while in Kannur, four nests were newly recorded and three were old.
About 70% of the nests at Kasaragod were found in temple complexes. In contrast, the nests in Kannur were spread over public land, private land and coastal stretches. Interestingly, for the first time the nest was found on a telephone tower in Kattampally, reflecting the species’ adaptability to changing landscapes.
The survey found that eagles prefer large, mature trees for nesting. These were Ficus religiosa (4 nests), Mangifera indica (6), Alstonia scholaris (2) and Casuarina species (3).
The findings underscore the importance of preserving tall trees in coastal and populated areas. Many nests were located in temple premises and other populated areas, suggesting that the species can coexist with humans if nesting trees are protected and disturbance is minimized.
He said the sea eagle usually breeds between January and March. This species breeds in the same nest every year and renovates it before the season.
Dr. Ramesh said they mostly build their nests on tall trees that people often cut down. The only way to preserve this species is to protect the trees where they build their nests.
The white-tailed eagle, an apex predator in coastal ecosystems, is considered an indicator of the state of the marine and coastal environment. In Kerala, it is known to breed only in Kannur and Kasaragod districts.
The survey team appealed to the public to report any additional nesting sites to the forest department or MARC to support continued monitoring and conservation efforts.
Published – 15 Feb 2026 19:29 IST