VELLARIMALA & CHEMBRA-- ORNITHOLOGICAL CENTER

VELLARIMALA & CHEMBRA- FIND OUT 200 BIRD SPECIES

    Malabar ornithological surveys find out 200 bird species in Wayanad part of western ghats. The team sighted 200 species, including 14 of the 16 endemic species during the two- month survey in Wayanad district.
Team found an excellent population of black-chinned laughing thrash, an endemic and endangered bird species, whose presence is mostly confined to the Vellarimala and Brahmagiri mountains of wayanad region.
     Other endemic birds reported from the region include the Black and orange Flycatcher, Rufous-bellied shortwing, Nilgiri fly catchers, 
                                                      Wayanad laughing thrush,small sunbird, malabar Gray Hornbill and   
                                                       white-b ellied Blue Fly catcher.

    Among them, the Black and orange Fly catcher, the Nilgiri Flycatcher and the shortwing were strictly confined to the high altitude region especially the shola forests. The team sighted some rare species,including the scaly Thrush, oriental Dwarf King fisher, Black capped King fisher, Olive-backed tree pipit, speckled piculets,Nilgiri wood pigeon,mountain Hawk Eagle and Jerdon's Baza.

   The team also found Brwon-rock pipit on the Chembra mountain, the first record of the species from noth of the Palghat Gap. The region had became a critical habitat of the highly endemic and threatend bird species of northern Kerala. The team intended to sugget in their report that the government declare the Vellarimala and Chembra region as a natiional park  to conserve the birds. A few months ago, a team scientist discovered 14 new species of plants in the region.

    The ornithologist Sasikumar said the mountain ranges situated 3000 to 7000 feet above the sea level and spread over 200 sq k.m, were unique and in comparable to any other part of the western Ghats. Mr Raju,Mr V.A Shebin,Mr C.K Vishnu Das,Mr P.A Vinayan were the other members of the team

Prof.John Kurakar