A three-day annual bird survey from February 18,2011 conducted by a team of ornithologists in the 171-sq km Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary in the kollam district recorded the presence of 170 bird species in the sanctuary. the survey conducted for the 16th consecutive year was led by environment group Waders and Warblers.
P.I Pradeep Kumar, Wild life Warden of the sanctuary, said that out of the 16 endemic bird species of the Wester Ghats, 14 were spotted inside the sanctuary during the survey. These include the Nilgiri wood pigeon an endangered bird species. The sancturary was divided in to seven divisions with seven base camps at Kattilapara,Kallar, Rockwood,Umayar, Rosemala,Dharbhakulam and Pandimotta. Data were recorded directly by sight and indirectly by calls during two peak observation periods each day,one from 7 am to 11 am and the other from 4 pm to 6 pm. 
Significant bird species recorded during the survey included bush quail, Srilankan frogmouth, blue-bearded,bee -eater,white-bellied black wood pecker, great Indian piedhornbill,Indian black shama,Malabar trogon,broad-billed roller,black-napped oriole and large hawk cuckoo,a rather uncommon winter visitor to kerala sighted at Kattilapara. The endemic endangered and threatened species sighted included the Malabar parakeet,Malabar grey hornbill,Nilgiri flycatcher,greyheaded bulbul,small sunbird,grey-breasted laughing thrush and the Rufus babbler.. The presence of the brown fish owl, a common nocturnal bird ,was not recorded during the last three annual surveys. The highest bird presence was recorded in the Katilapara divisions (128) species) and the lowest at pandimotta (53) species)The rich presence of hornbill,the state bird of kerala,all over the sanctuary indicated the fine health of Shendurney ecosystem.Prof. John Kurakar
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