_6

e-

ffigvcTnust
V. Gokula

J. Sci. Trans. Environ. Technov.2011, 5(2)

:59-69

Scientific T[ansactions in Environmentand Technovation

Status and distribution of population and potential breeding and foraging sites of Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis 1n Tamil Nadu, India.
Department of Zoology, National College, Tiruchirappalli

- 620 001, Tamil Nadu, India.

Abstract
A survey was conducted to identify the population and potential breeding and foraging sites of Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus phitippensis from September 2007 to September 2010 in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Based on published
and unpublished records, various potentiat wetlands were identified and surveyed during the peak breeding season of pelican (November-April). All the pelicans sighted at various wetlands were counted and their breeding details if any were noted besides recording other details on the wetland types. In total, pelicans were found breeding at five places and exploiting as many as 54 wetlands of various types exclusively for foraging PurPose during the study period in Tamil Nadu. Spot-billed Pelican prefers largely inland wetlands than other types such as marine/coastal wetlands and Human-made wetlands. Among the fivebreedingplaces,large nurnbers of pelicans were foundbreeding at Vedanthangal and Koonthangulam. Breeding populations of 501 pairs in2007,695 pairs in 2008, and71,2pairs in 2009 were estimated for Tamil Nadu which is higher than previous estirnates. Lack of awareness, poaching, and fishing activities are the major threats to these birds wherever they occur. A slmchronized census is recommended at every wetland during the early and latebreeding seasons of the Spot-billed Pelican.

Keywords: breeding

sites, foraging sites, Pelecanus philippensis, population, spot-billed pelican

INTRODUCTION

Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis / a near threatened of the eight species of pelicans in the world, listed under Schedule IV of the Indian Wildlife
(Protection) Act,1972, can be found only in South and a range of territory between 729,000 and 181,000 km2 with a stronghold in India, Sri Lanka, southern Cambodia, and coastal areas of Sumatra. In India, it is presently distributed in southern and northeastern India with a stronghold in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Assam (Birdlife
Southeast Asia over

to sites, conducted at different times, and also relied on secondary information. Li et.al., (2009) recently reported a maximum population size of 5293,4758,3707, and

7865 individuals of Spot-billed Pelican for the periods 7987-92, 7993-97, 1998-2002 and 2003-2007,
respectively, for entire Asia. For the present investigation, an attempt was made to assess the population and document the potential breeding and foraging sites of

the Spot-billed Pelican in Tamil Nadu, India from September 2007 to September 2010. STUDYAREA
Tamil Nadu
(8004' - 1.30 34' N and 760 74' - 800 21' E) is situated on the southeastern side of the Indian Peninsula. It has a geographical area of 1,30,058 km2

International 2007, 2010). No specific attempt has however, been made to assess the population of pelican in India and thus, Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) has been the major source for assessing the population of Spot-billed Pelican (SBP). The total population is estimated to be 2,500-5,000 individuals in South Asia, 3,000-5,000 individuals in South-East Asia and <25

(4% of theland area of the country) and a long coastline

individuals in Sumatra (Birdlife International 2007, forests, montane shola grasslands and mangroves at Wetlands International 2002). Manakadan and various levels. The State has protected areas in the form Kannan (2005) estimated a population of 2850 - 3700 of National Parks (5), Wildlife Sanctuaries (9), Tiger individuals for the states of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Reserves (3), Bird Sanctuaries (13), Conservation Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and reported their Reserve (1) and Biosphere Reserves (3). The maximum
estimation
as

of about 7076 krn.Ithas 22,877 kmz of forested area (77.59% of state's geographical area) in the form of tropical rain forest, dry deciduous forest, dry thorn

crude

as

it was based on very few visits

*Corresponding Author

ernail: gokulae @ yahoo. c om

59

temperature in the plains is about 450C in the summer and the minimum goes down to about 100C during the winter. The normal rainfall in the state is about 950mm with an average number of 50 rainy days. However, it is a water deficient state. The total precipitation is around 32909 Million Cubic Meters (MCM). The surface water
Scientific Transactions in Environment and Technovation

October to December 2011

60

V. Gokula

J. Scr. Irans. Environ. Technov. 5(2),2011

availability is about 77,563 MCM and ground water availability is around 75,346 MCM. The surface water resources have been fully harnessed by impounding the available water in 61 major reservoirs and also in 39,202 water bodies: panchayat union tanks 20,413, public workers department 8,903 and ex-zamin lanks 9,886 (Anonymous report). An annotated checklist of thebirds of Tamil Nadu is not available; but more than 450 species are likely to occur (Islam and Rahmani 2004). Islam and Rahmani (2004) have identified 34 Important Bird Areas for Tamil Nadu and of which 15 were reported harbouring Spot-billed Pelican (SPB). However, no comprehensive attempt has been made earlier to document the population, and breeding and foraging sites of SPB in Tamil Nadu. METHODS
Based on the available published literature (Pittie 2005,

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Kannan and Manakadan (2005) recorded SBP in 18 sites for the entire Tamilnadu. Subramanya (2005) reported as many as 15 active sites (breeding). In the present study, in total, SBP was found utilizing as many as 54 sites in Tamil Nadu (Table 1, Figure 1). Among the 54 wetlands, 10 wetlands have been protected under

Wildlife Sanctuary category, one under the Marine

National Park category, and one under the Reserved Forest category by the Forest Department of Tamil Nadu and thus fauna and flora of those sites receive some level of protection. The other 45 wetlands, being free from any sorts of legal protection, are very vulnerable to all human related activities despite 21 of which are identified as Important Bird Areas by Islam and
Rahmani (2004). In general, lack of awareness, poaching

of eggs, chicks and adults, pollution, and fishing

activities are the major threats to SBP regardless of sites. On 20th April2010, three dead pelicans were recovered by the forest department in Keelkattalai Lake near

Birdlife International 2001., Kannan and Manakadan 2005, and Subramanya 2005), e-discussion with members through tamilbirds@yahoogroups.co.in, interaction with forest officials, amateur and
professional ornithologists, and local people, a list of wetlands was initially prepared for the survey of Spotbilled Pelican in Tamil Nadu. All the listed wetlands were surveyed during pelican's peak breeding season (November-April) from September 2007 to September 2010. Each wetland was visited six times (once in a month during the peak breeding season) to confirm the presence of pelican utilizing the wetlands. Surveys were

Thoraipakkam-Pallavaram radial road, Chennai and

were found killed (strangulation) by the poachers. As most of the individuals of SBP stay up to ]une in TamilNadu, dipping of waterlevel inmajorityof thewetlands has become a major threat to SBP during that period. It often drives the SBP venture into new wetlands where such poaching incidents are more likely than in the old

wetlands. Although I could not sight anySPB inplaces alz., Vellode of Erode District, Vagaikulam of Tirunelveli District,

carried out during early morning (0500-0900hrs), midday (1200-1400hrs) and evening (1630-1800hrs) hours. Once a pelican was sighted in a place, information aiz., name and coordinates of the place where the pelican was sighted, number of pelicans sighted, usage of the wetland based on the activity performed during the time of sighting (breeding/ foraging/or both) and type of the wetland (marine/ coastal wetlands, inland wetlands and human-made
wetlands). Ramsar Convention Secretariat (2006) was used for the classification of wetlands. In addition, threats to pelican at each wetland were also identified.
Pelican counts were made using Vanguard (DCF 10X42)

Muthannankulam, Selvampathy, Krishnampathy, Narasampathy, Pudukulam, Kolarampathy, Ganganarayanasamudram, Sottaiandikuttai, Puttuvikikulam, Kuniyamuthurkulam, Kurucikulam,
Periyakulam, Selvachinthamanikulam, Valankularn, Singanallur kulam, and Chinnakulam of Coimbatore Taluk, and near SPIC guest house at Tuticorin, local
people and ornithologists confirmed these wetlands are also used by SBP for the past three years.

binocular and Audubon Spotting Scope (15-60X zoom) at elevated sites,/watch towers near the wetlands. In some places counts were carried out on foot to cover large area. As duplication is very likely in the count of foraging pelicans, breeding pairs alone are discussed

Mapping the distribution of SBP shows that not all the dislricts of Tamil Nadu are represented (Figure 1 and 2). SBP was sighted from 18 districts and was not sighted from Tiruppur, Vellore, Krishnagiri, Tiruvanamalai,

in the present paper for estimating the breeding

population. Hence, maximum carewas takento include all the nests found in the breeding sites but due to dense vegetation and lack of accessibility, missing of very few

Dharmapuri, Slaem, The Nilgiris, Namakal, Perambalur, Karur, Tiruchirappalli, Dindigul, Pudukkottai and Theni districts during the study period. The maximum number of wetlands with SBP was from the districts of Kanchipuram (9),
Ramanathapuram (8) and Coimbatore (8). Other districts

nests was inevitable. Global positioning system (Magellan) was used to get the coordinates of the wetlands. ERDAS IMAGINE and Arcview software were used to prepare potential site-maps of pelican.

aiz.Yirudunagar (4), Tiruvarur (3), Kanyakumari (3), Villupuram (2), Tirunelveli (2), Tanjore (2), Nagappattinam (2), Madurai (2), Cuddalore (2), Ariyalur (2), Tuticorin (1), Tiruvallur (1), Sivaganga(7), Erode (1), and Chennai (1) hold less than five wetlands with SBP each. The above mentioned information is by
wwwbvgt-journal.com

October to December 2011

Scientific Transactions in Environment and Technovation

J. Scl. tans. Environ. Technov. S(2),2011

Status and distribution of population and potential breeding

61

O O N
H

0)

tr 0.) -o
C)

tr

Hg E .=,t E E*j 3
(t0J

PG'r =6= boRooBbbbo

Oc '5rH

+
U)

E (n + (U
q)

0l

o N O O N lr o
-o
H a.)

E F

Ii

E&E PPP E;; E P ;E3 P E ry ry ; P ; .tEr EEE 3:.E E E E g E g fi fr fB 6 3 g#E g &,6i iiiiii d#d d E E o ii o iE ii i ii IpEE d d
UEqjqidjqjEojaralolorooo) .J. g -V .n -V -V G)<G'raGorsrccctc<tt<s(t
')H-=--O-

E bo ; il iP E E 3

oo .E E 5 E H

E H 5

oo

.E

..Eaa6c)qaaQaqaaa

!D

t
E
-. O

ri

)z

J
E
cd

P.
U) bo
a)

($

o d

tr

i: i -O !E .tr = o ----*+ErPi-u.+P;t!#+ ti
CJ

3 X i8X X *,fr = i E !e -< te6 fr r8 : fr f= f= .: fts 4 6 6 f= g 6 t E i qi 9, !.) q q cr 9 or 3 E E ES,

I tr--,!L () .E *\.i-

bs cn b buEb 6u <g o
EAE br= rr4+ or A=E Ior o !P Ur!O
H

u u u il u h h il E rd rc od r0 (6 rd rs G
L \jL !i-

z
F
(6

E
(g q)

E
6
OJ

;r;c; ;I; ;E-Ei ; i-i-iFEii n iq itr i E--iiilE E EPEPE>E^-E^tr

.E

E E*E EIE E ; E s s sE#Bs e E E e E li E E E E^*.E E E E IoPFP .E E E n .E .E .E fii i2,1 ,E .E .E Ef !.E e.E

= =
E

Z A

r=

E g ,; ,O E

.H \ii

tr !o

T or

g q

L !H

C I i

E tr o \
3 ts

r e

tq

tr

L q

q)

F q.) !

F iI

F cr E

tr cJ

= iGi

E E

U
0,)

Cr O

.f;=g5S .HSg .f;=-8 "H "E6"H6"HAs5"Ha"H ,ff

I! :--\o
F l-l) _' o N o o6F.ooEF--wooo

s
o

s
O

+
t

rrlrrt
(\ u O orao; U) o

0)

o o a

(/)

O.
o(

(d 0)

E
6
OJ

Fl

"^, o e, --5 o,'ooPo;P9N

i\

bD
o) 0) t<

E u N i";
Fl

r- 2 2 832 2 2 z N D\ K D\ ; z z z z =* i zzA b h il 2 2 2 ) I h h h : 4 n e I n? A II':

:' N ;j ro co oo oo-rj N o $ErErq65tr,rlr.Pr,r:srE a io;'-#: N oo = io = lo =- oo =. ;.r + 6io+bNao+?\co-coroN<a:i ;'{.-X:-;';t;'N;.n;q:' elLric.torcoe.tN<iNcoNrQNNo\ JN-if---N-to-.$-.oC
(oq(E(!e)Y=5

o a B il P K i
= o
=

_<i:C-C;-cli\c)l O '1 o

r!

F
<ir

I!
;

t!

F
c

E
cO

R R R

o-

oo o I i1rrf ? f ? ry =q S uf:{ uf# co o\ o .+ a'l o: co:, co: N o q. C o q' C o q O # o o\ c #o\-o\Fo\Oco o'?oe?oo?"oQ c'ciQco$co-c-C+O--l'r)
E

z s Lo
r.rt
=

bo bo

!
o o
ad

.F

0)
l-.,l

'i o p r! F

E H hi?F+ ! E E EFsFs t[i[E[; E^ a t Ex E[xe*sg E g E igags FsPiE$ EH E E=i-i; f 5EEEEi -Ei T E aEE=4Y= ! = gegg $E g E E *gEEE gEgE5EE F 4
ah

? E = -e?5 ?=5EEE?:-?E* g E 4F E ?e r g E g T" E,E ? E fr t E iE E * # =E r hE gEugg il E E Er'i.E #.EaIaE $ E E

o,

i
#

Fl

o o 6 o

ii
@ O\

(,

CO

$tO\O

Oic{cO<itO\Ot'.0O H i # #

ts

il

www.bvgt-journal.com October to December

2011

Scientific Transactions in Environment and Technovation

62

V. Gokula

J. Sci.

Trans. Environ. Technov. 5(2).2011

U
.i

6 O5.OE-Of,O6-iE fr O6.0E.tr f u*X E UXUEuEUXf ii uXuXf EC5.d

'= U'= '= U U'= 0J0,laJ0r0Jo)oJoOQJC,0, .E -V "v -V -V -V ss.qssssss-qsszs.t a6cht^u::.r::rlcaqqqqAp
llrktrtrkt{Llrt<HtrFk

qp q

SeS#SfS# 6 .: 6 .: 6 .-. rC .: bptr botr botr bD

tr .? .E .9 .E .= .= .9 9tesqeqEu. U (g (E U (E U (!

= bo= bo:i bo= oo bo.= bD.= bo.= bo.:

/

titrlk*<rrlO (E 6
/ J s

i
(c
/

(E
J

?ieEy-.y-1

i qp qp tr

SiiS# rd .: (E .: boc 0D
I .9 .E .e .i (,)-qe.<t (! r0

6 gp= ,^ (E oD = oo.= bo.! gfg#

) = ) )'

qo

C sp.g .9 .i Q q:-c ., 'i rd P

H 3 q oo (6

I x
.;

.=

6f;
r

.=

bo

bo
.=

iiii
.=

r E # E E E

.i

bo oo bo I tr d
.i .i

bobo
.E

ii

dd

EE

.y

.t -v ,!, .t f

-V

33333^33333t5?} P qI q0 qS CI 5 qE qE t7 r tr ! k , k k q 4
F tr
trH

ooeAQA!.toqQarari/o) p+9t++ptr:rJ; (6(6(6(E(!(!(!16(!6(d(6trE

H!kF!(E .i .H

EE
s o \ o

i # f E i $ i6ia$s3#jsEaEa$ sfr is
tr]
=i-H'i-

E E E E E i

q tr tr q * t t tr I .E> e tr tr g g g i- g g pg fle fl g e TE s s s F :! _s s s H F e, FF-5E E E E }T E^ P^ s F F F E H z F $:ryE: : z E tE *+ //

r q

i u-

B E E E s"^
{E i lij i \tr TaJ t:-:

; +.j

G-ii-fraFiE

E=EoE
i!

: i

Et-r

Irl

a \e a 9rrrlr!?Er?rrlIa b a "a ag -Lc' b b .i tt a a fu o:E 6 'o i., Jrllsl? b F.: oQ oo 6Q - -co i'o i -\o + + c'.,--b c\ J .:,: t = aD I == to!0LO!!1r)e-ILo!oco OcoO5.O co co +v S i! NN Ji\=:-l O d N q?o
co
o

n S. o N t'- N R o'-' N N o oo o o oo lo N ." N N NR RR N N N RR ; zz\zzzz\a i i:. z i" L a h z 2 z 2V -bio z z b zz zz :- - N to N :_-:{ - = q' I - - :###coH
o t_\o -o.--o oroo\o\N\q, dLO#N#<i#NO o a)o \o

th h= ? R io Qb b h i- S b Lo :- \ \ ! = s= R3 = I ,:. Pf = \" i,o .; D I o : dt') il 8 H E 3 N $$ y 5 3 $ 6 .:

o

1,;

rrl

rrr lrl

tr] Fl

El p4

t!

z
co

HLOTTcOH

q\
O

o O

ooo
O-

oo iH

oo
-

@
-

oociclc,t
-s-H

o ={o

bggE[6 ESSE=sGEe -o-.-ajEp= ts E = .E ^ .Q s E i E

ur
.:>

= * E E 5 T Eip Eg*e +ErI -6 r #a[E E a E F X *; E -u tEF- i=E EeIH F i .>b-rE 9E_3: =s;8 e .A Y n-Etr5 S'E = E u # e E & 3 =i! Sgsi SS5# # E gEEg ;5S
ES"EU
.Ydl(d

EYEY5 EE H E E ; E E
O N 11 N c'l c-l cr) N

! i nSpH f"EE Eg I g E I #"8 Ef,--q b

h <i N tO c.t \O N N N @ N O\O NcO riN cOcri cO cO <1 cO rO 6

= ! i ? E 5F iE g ? = 3.f ,i g

-r r 5 , i

'Htr E t>.'i ^d i -q

? F

tE

EE ? -:4i?=

O\ rr

\ON 6frj

oo

cd

www. bvgLjournal.com

October to December 2011

Scientific Transactions in Environment and Technovation

J. Sci. Trans. Environ. Technov.5(2).2011

Status and distribution of population and potential breeding 63

o
,)L

bD

o]]

gA -c'
JT G.-

d= 66O

tt i! t!
tt

l'l

oD
q

b0
q

L.-J
00
b0

06^o@oo qq

\
qq

bO bD
w w w.; S=E 6,^d^ Et!!!a 6 o 5 ^ ci / -t o sr E o tri

b0b0 E
u u o c OO AA

6\

bobobo

b0b0

,; 6n.- .6..i u I q Ul N G G UdOOO oEC.C.C.

u I c c OO F.A
(J

66006a66b 00 )1J 66 a o -*
lHLLtsLLELIH

0 J *d

0 J 6

0 J{ 6

0 J4 6

00 J}1 6.6

0 )1
G

4
I

ca

ooo
GNN

o
G

o
G S @ n t

0
!

o
G t.S I o z-* t

o
6

oo
6!a -C,C:I o o;: qL o

o
N

+t

ES a, ^, oo::ao6oaaona H o o L LL:ILLFL n*: :

S o

z F
*.j

OO +r>>e+dlrr.ilo.{16 '- -. .

ccE

': E O a
)

r r-+ tr Lc O oo
'i'1

tr O
-

--c trc= OOG

-\

c
'-

()
6 t

;;; ;t;
--; -ob: o : o i6ca
ii, c 6; a:c'

EEi ;^E E ;E E IEi E ;f 0o o-a' o6oo o OOs z tC)o

.a .o
()
!

i *i z,i;i;rP:
oa :o ci -!'_r! d' .d d-

&
o.! ) 5
I

() ()

3#,.3J
ElulLrlFJ OO+O +NNlii

Ja3t,frt=;i,f;:33i
d :

_\Cr\tr\ trJtr\trtrG ]oololtoToooo; o r o o o _ ! o.CI o

--iZaZ<t24.dG:

ca

-r, 6'

E\, L oul6's o
J oloi "

f+

35=fi
uJ

E 6

.,i

b .+ * =^
o O o ' ^ @

lrl

u.tr

IJ.t O -

I!

t!

I
X: ]o

O., - ;., r.i

O N - t!-N-

N o

z o
'r'1

o ^o K K-:.; -f iiKKK N N N KN ^ . ^')^ .P

Rz
oooF]
O

z
I

ZZZZZZZZZzZn-4224| ./ = : * o-NO '- o: --co

o-oo

bb'o.rb 3 I +-NN
oOOO oiH* O i 6 o

ii
O\ o

oe

.!

b b+* h+N 6
O + O66 *oH

L.i\r)

z z
h
o
C)

Figure 1. Distribution of wetlands with Spot-billed Pelican sightings in various districts of Tamil Nadu during 2007 -2010 (N=54).
no means an indication of an absence of SBP in other districts as six visits may not be sufficient enough to

r O
O -

m-l
-Oh

**d

OcOO iico

."q

indicate the absence. Moreover, there are still

s
a
F.l
I

unexplored/unknown wetlands in each district.

Majority of the SBP foraging sites are clustered near the distribution of rivers in Tamil Nadu as majorwetlands occur in this region (Figure 3). Subramanya (2005)

reported that maior heronries in Tamil Nadu are distributed along rivers that coincide with the distribution of major tanks, indicating the importance of foraging grounds for the species nesting in the heronries of the state. Hence, the distribution of SBP largely depends on the distribution of tanks and
heronries.
The SBP, to forage, prefers largely inland wetlands than
cO O\Oi !+1 $()r) N r) cO+ r)()

6Od(\ 6++<1

.O t+r

<t <r

r) $

N $+

the other wetland typesaiz., marine/coastal wetlands and Human-made wetlands (Figure 4). In general, SBP was largely sighted foraging in freshwater lakes.

wwwbvgt-jou rnal.com October to December 2011

Scientific Transactions in Environment and Technovation

64

V. Gokula

J. Sci. Trans. Environ. Technov. S(2),2011

Number of wetlands with sighiings of Spot-billed Pelican in

different districts ofTamil Nadu during 2007.2010(N = 54)

''

\-{}f,+i'J

^1t}*lT#

o Pelican Sites

1(xl 0

--

100

mc{ss

Figure 3. Distribution of wetlands with Spot-billed Pelican sightings with respect to the distribution of rivers in Tamil
Cuddalore

Nadu during 2007- 2010 (N=54).

Ariyalur
Tuticorin Thiruvallur Sivaganga Erode

However, SBP was also sighted foraging in marine/ saline water during the study period. Among the human-made wetlands, reservoirs and salt exploitation sites were highly preferred.
Pallikaranai marsh has been one of the largest foraging sites for SBP during the breeding season. However, the area was reduced to about 600ha from an earlier extent of 4000-5000 ha (Care Earth, 2002; loint Committee Report, 2003; The Hindu, 2006) and recently to 420ha (Care Earth, 2005). A fall of about30% in the wetland area within a span of three years is indeed detrimental to SBP. The Pallikkkaranai marsh was very effectively

utilized by SPB during the present study period for

The Nilgiris Namakkal perambalur Karur Thiruchirappallil

foraging. However, over 250 acres of prime marsh lands have already been choked by the wastes dumped by Chennai metropolis. Besides, real estate ventures, fire, pollution, and various other developmental activities

are further aggravating the wetland depletion. Although the government of Tamil Nadu (Gazette notification GO. Ms. No. 52, dated 9 April 2007),
l

Dindigul Pudukkottai

3456
Number of wetlands

7B

10

declared a part of the Pallikaranai marsh (317.00ha) as a reserve forest (under section 4 of the Tamil Nadu ForestAct, 1882), rejuvenation of this wetland ecosystem in a sustained manner is an urgent need to preserve SBP population. Although, the pylons present amidst the marsh has largely been used as resting sites by SBP, mortality of SPB due to electrocution was also noticed during the study period.
There are currently four relatively stable large breeding colonies in Tamil Nadu: Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary,

Distribution of wetlands with Spot-billed Pelican in different districts of Tamil Nadu during
Figure
2.

2007-2070 (N=54).

Koonthangulam Bird Sanctuary, Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary, and Karikilli Bird Sanctuary. The Melaselvanur and Kelaselvanur Bird Sanctuary,
www.bvgt-journal.com

October to December 2011

Scientific Transactions in Environment and Technovation

J. Sci. Trans. Environ. Technov.5(2),2011

Status and distribution of population and potential

breeding

65

A. Marine/coastal Wetlands

Marine/coastal wetlands 68% lnland wetlands

Ecoastal brack sh/saline

EEstuarine waters

lagoon

EPermanent Shallow marine waters

EHuman-made wetlands

C.Human-made Wetlands B. lnland Wetlands

E Ponds Eseasonal/intermittent freshwater lakes . seasonat/intermittenvbrackish/atkati ne marshes/poots ;rXl""r-3,5J:i:'H:""'

ff

Figure

4. Foraging

habitat preference shown by Spot-billed Pelican in Tamil Nadu during2007-2010 (N=54) activities in the above mentioned sites (Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Vettangudi Patti Tank, Watrup Big

Tank, Edyaur. Parai Kanmoi, Kanjirankulam,

Chitrangudi, and Ariyakulam) during the entire study period. The local people also confirmed the lack of nesting actives by SPB in recent years in the above
mentioned places.

Figure 5. Distribution of breeding sites of Spot-billed Pelican in Tamil Nadu during2007-2070.

another breeding site in Tamil Nadu is also expected to
be stabilizing in near future (Figure 5). However, Kannan

Among the breeding sites, regardless of years, more number of breeding pairs were found in Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary (258 pairs in 2007-08,358 in 2008-2009, and 359 in 2009-10) than the other sites. Koonthangulam was the second largest holder of pelican breeding colony in Tamil Nadu followed by Karaivetti (except 2007-08), Karikilli, Melaselvanur and Kelaselvanur. Kannan and Manakadan (2005) estimated a population size of 1,600-2,000 SBP for the entire Tamil Nadu. The current population of breeding SBP alone was 3487 in 2010 in Tamil Nadu (Table 3). It shows that the population estimates in the 1980s by Neelakantan (1980), Nagulu (1983), and Kannan and Manakadan (2005) are either underestimates or the population has
seen a rise over the years due to conservation measures or other unknown factors. Liet ol., (2009) also reported

and Manakadan (2005) reported only two breeding colonies (Koonthangulam and Karaivetti), four occasional breeding colonies (Edayur, Sakarakottai,

Watrup Big tank and Vedanthangal) and two

abandoned breeding colonies at Kanjirankulam-

chitrangudi and Moondradaippu. Similarly,

Subramanya (2005) reported as many as 13 active breeding sites of SBP in Tamil Nadu based on the earlier literature. However, I could not record any breeding
www. bvgt-jou rnal.com

an increasing trend of population of SPB in the global level for the last two decades (1987-2007). A vital factor in the existence and survival of many of the pelicanries in southern India has been the traditional support of local communities. And, of concern, is the change in attitude of locals in support to pelicanries in some areas due to increasing human related pressures and other

October to December 2011

Scientific Transactions in Environment and Technovation

66 V

Gokula

J. Sci.

Trans. Environ. Technov. 5(2),2011

a 6
trl
6

O 6 N O

=
O

c-!

q
O O 6

n
oe

\ a
6 O O N

-{
O

o
o)
6

O O

O O

O I

c.l
6 6 6

O O

6 N 6

6 O

O O

..N

6l

I O

q
O 6 O

N oq O 6

o o
N 6 6 @

.c
N O oe N

O ?

.q
N

- \
N d 6

q
o

c.j

O
c.l
O

q
O

O O

L--

O O

\ \ o
o

c?
O 6 O O O O

e q O O N
cq
ts--

o
6

n O

? O
O

O O N h
-o

c?

O a 0-

6 o

s <\
N
b 6 d

q
O

c.l
@ N

q
N 6

O 6

=
O O O

e I
I c{

O O

\
6 6t

O 6

cF) N

6 O

.z

N o

6l 6t

c.t

N O

b
@ 6 O

<\

t
O I 6

0)
CA

N O N
L
q)

6 O O N

I @

6
s

z
a
I

z Z
o qr)
(n
6 a

d N

s
c?
N

s
N

s
N

s
O O

I 6 O

.o

tr (,
bo
L

o o

s O
O N O O ao N

I O O O O

I N N

I I 6

s
N N O O O

a
E2 N

a
oq

ce

I c .\ 6 c{

n q co O co 6
.9
6 O

ce
O O

o
I 6

q cI
O

c{
6 O

E! t-\

ol

=1 c.l O @

? O
O O

co

O O

o
O

O O

O O

q
O

o o
N

- a? O @ O

O O

c-l

O O

N O

cc O

o
I

q
O I

z
F
E
U)

6 O O

(\ z

@ O

\
N N N

q .! ? ('j q q O t-\ O O
O O N O N O

c?
6 N

c?
O 6

q o

c-l

o a

=
O O

6 6

oe

? O
O

O N

u?

s
N 6

+ x G

6 I N

b b

I N

O
O N

@ N

.>'
I 6

6 N 6 I oq

6 N

0)
C,)

z z
o (r)
trl
cJ-)

s
6

s s s
6 6 N O
N

I O

s
O

I N N

<\
6

s s
6

U ti

6 O 6 O O

c.j

n
c\l
O

u?

?
O N N

n
O N

N N

.q ce ={ 'g co O N
a{

6 O

c ? I
u?
O

6 I ao 6

I O

o
N @

6 O N

N @ O

@ O

O O

N 6

c O
a

= @

6 O N N 6 O 6

N N

O N O

a? O N O

c.j

O @ I 6 N O

6 6 N

6 O 6 O

c! o o

"? N
N N N

A')

bo
C,)

6 O O N

t-\

6 o

N I

o
N

N O

\
6

@ O

.z

o x
o
L.O O N

E
AJ
I

z
O

o
I

o
O O N @

o
I I O

6
O

C{

I c{

c{

s 6
a

O. U]

o o
H
a)

z z

-o d

z
c.i

o 5
F 6 O

s
F

0)

6 ,l a 6
6

o o
o

o
6 b( d

O 6 6 6 a 6

'l
bI
d

bI

o o
-Y
6 6 o .a o F O o F 6 N 6

o o
6 c-)

o
6

o
bc 6 6

-v 6
b(
O

g 6
CA

,-l

o o

o
c!

U
I

(,]

o. J
O

-v

o a O
co
N 6

-v
a
h I d frl

cN

O N

d 6

6 6

v
N

v
tr\

4 (rl

vwvw.

bvgt-journal.com

October to December

201'1

Scientific Transactions in Environment and Technovation

J. Sci. Trans. Environ.

Technov. 5(2),2011

Status and distribution of population and potential breeding 67

.-:
6 6

\
6

c 6
@

ce ts\

Y
O

b O

@ O

rJ) 6

O O
aO

6
O O

c c -
.{

q
b

c.:

cO

C? cO

=
O O O

q
O

6 N

c'l
aO

(.j
O

..1

t-\
O

6 O

q
Lr)

O O

t-\
O

oe c{

\
C?

=q

c{

-{
O

O O

c1

aO

N N

cO

q
N

u2

cO

O 6

O O

ca

O
F\

O O

c! co o

ts\

q
O

@ N

\
O

O O

N
N O 6 N

c.t

o\
b

b I

c.t

al 6

oO

\o

N N

aO

I
cO aO

s
c-.1

.9
t\
6

I O O

a
O O

s
La 1r)

I O O

s
6

6 tO

u2
N

oc

? O
O

O o

? O
q c!
O O

N N

E-

? O O

? 6l
c9

c{
O

N O

O O

q q
O

\
o{
c-l
O

o
O

ao

o c{
6 O @

6 O

O
cO

og
6l

r2

o
I c.t 6

cl
6l

N N

6 O

N O

6t o

q q
O O

6
oo

q
O

cO

O O

O 6

t-\
N

6l

O O

2, =il q--;
</)

c.t
d
6 @

\.,

t-\ e{
ao

d i

N 6

6 I

c{

o-_ o
OH

c{

O 6

rr)
6

\o
6

c?

o
\o
6

-t
N

s q
O

s
@ O

\o

O O O aq N

s
\o
oq
O

.q

z,e trS a 2,,,

Yq :^s 5.@6-d

I u? O

q
O

o lr)

\ n
@ O

?a= a
oo .*

ro

D\

e
()
cf)

a 6l
q

q
cl
N

\
N N

=
O

q q
O O O O O

6 O 6 O

6t a

I O N

r\ N
u?
I

6l O

=
O

q
O b

-{
6t
u?

c'l
cO

oq
O

c.l
O

:'o

o
c{

q
O

o
O c.l

6t
O

I ? O
5 a

u?

c\t

c{
N

c.l
N

\ \
N

ul q
O

Eso oH>

il -o .q a.r= Y

c\l

=n o{

rr) a

\o
O

cO

N
O

O O O

ve !E

oqil
O O O 6 N I

o
I I

s s

\o

\o \o

rr
Edo ot6
3H

mx=

"u
E
6 6

o.
(c

6 6

v
6

"BE
.H .:

d 6

*.i 6:-

E
6 6 6 6
bT

6 O 6 6

b4 6

E]

a a

t
.v 6
O

fr

o
o
..o

>o
:;6 L>

t
.Y
O

cE z 6L o
Ma

abf, .d 6

'd

-v -v

df 6 6

o
O

o-

66 6= J: dd

-v .iq .<6 (n tri (n UV \J

O

;,tr !6
d v

6 (n

>-

o o 6
6

6 6

OiCa tr ach a* I = O-X : -z

e-L

\J
6

=U
6 6

Ev v
I

IZ E
F\

o
6

v
O N

z
6 I N

-qo UV
@

o
O 6

v
6

c{ 6

c.)

cO

=
c{
1r)
cO

ts=-r -

E EE
1r)
L)

Z www.bvgt-journal.com October to December 2011

lq

Scientific Transactions in Environment and Technovation

68 V. Gokula

J. Scl. Irans. Environ. Technov. 5(2),2011

Table

3.

Number of individuals sighted at five breeding wetlands in Tamil Nadu durin gSep. 2007 to Sep. 2010
Se

Name of the Wetlands

asons

Nov - 2007 to April 2008

Nov - 2008 to April 2009

265 (185 Adults, 80 Chicks)
1

Nov - 2009 to Aoril 2010

295

Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary

(86

116

Adults,30 Chicks)
1384

(203Adults, 92 Chicks)
14 84

Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary

550

(968 Adults, 416 Chicks)

(1102 (89

Adults, 448 Chicks)

1,39

(1020

Adults, 454 Chicks)

158

Karikilli Bird Sanctuary

(79
M

131

elaselvanur-Keelaselvanur

Adults, 52 Chicks) 16 Adults

1008

Adults,50 Chicks)
28

(102 Adults, 56 Chicks)

41

Bird Sanctuarv Koonthangulum Bild Sanctuary Total

(23 Adults, 5 Chicks)

1438

(26

Adults,15 Chicks
1

509

(628 Adults, 380 Chicks)

2

(826 Adults, 612 Chicks)

3420

(901 Adults, 608 Chicks)

3487

655

(1770 Adults, 885 Chicks)

(2225 Adults, 1195 Chicks)

(2552 Adults, 1235 Chicks)

Table 4. Number of nests of Spot-billed Pelicans found in various wetlands in Tamil Nadu during
9ep.2007 to Sep. 2010

Number of nests found in different years

Name of the wetlands Karaivetti Bird Sanctuarv Vedanthaneal Bird Sanctuarv Karikilli Bird Sanctuarv Melaselvanur-Keelaselvanur Bird Sanctuarv Koonthaneulum Bird Sanctuarv Total

Nov.

2007 to 2008
18

April

Nov.2008 to April
2009 50

Nov.2009 to April
20L0 56

258 24
0

3s8 27
2

359
31

201
s01

258 695

260

712

reasons. This has resulted in disinterest in protection of the species, loss of nesting trees and over exploitation

of foraging grounds which have affected pelicans. Hence, a people participatory approach has to be
developed in all the five breeding sites to conserve SPB. February to April being the crucial months of growing young ones of SPB, proper steps have to be taken to
sustain thewaterlevelforthe conservation of SPB during

the mentioned months in all the breeding sites. As nesting trees are not sufficient enough to support all the members of the birds during the breeding season, erection of artificial nest poles or stages would invite more number of SPB in immediate future. In addition,

planting of trees would ensure the long term

sustainability.
The status of the Spot-billed Pelican in southern India (and indeed in the rest of its range) is poorly known. It was previously believed to be sedentary or subject to Iocal seasonal movements, and it was presumed not to

travel long distances to foraging grounds and there may also be movements between colonies. The present sfudy substantiates their opinion as there were movements of SBP in large numbers from unknown location to Karaivetti between the month of May and July during the study period. A total of 357,243 and2L6 individuals of SBP moved from unknown sites to Karaivetti Lake in the years 2008,2009 and 2010, respectively. As the colony comprised largely adults and months old chicks, it is assumed that they would have come from nearby breeding sites. As the breeding population in other four sites was stable during the same period, it may be assumed that thepopulationwould have migraied from other states or from Sri Lanka, an adjacent country, which falls within the movement limits. Movements up to 75 km (Findholt and Anderson 1995) and 100 km (Hatzilacou 1996) from colonies to foraging areas have alreadybeen reportedinthe American White Pelican

P.

undertake long-distance movements regularly (Ali and Ripley 1987, del Hoyo et al., 1992). Kannan and Manakadan (2005) suggested that the species may

erythrorhynchos and Great White Pelican P, it is probable that Pelicans sighted all over the Tamil Nadu would presumably be derived from the existing five breeding sites in Tamil Nadu and to a certain extent from the Pulicate Lake of Andra Pradesh and Sri Lanka.
onocrotalus, respectively. Hence,
www. bvgt-journal.com

October to December 2011

Scientific Transactions in Environment and Technovation

J. Sci. Trans. Environ.

Technov. 5(2),2011

Status and distribution of population and potential breeding 69

CONCTUSION
The status of population Spot-billed Pelican appears strongly to be increasing and surviving well in recent years in Tamil Nadu. It prefers largely inland wetlands to breed and forage. There are currently four relatively

Care Earth. 2005. Current status of the Marsh and

recommendations for restoration. Unpublished document. Dartmouth College: Dartmouth Flood Observatory. Hanover/USA. Online access:http:,/ /www.dartmouth.edu/ -floods / archives /index html. del Hoyo, j. Elliot, A. and Sargatal, J. 1992 Handbook of the birds of the world. Vol. 1. Barcelona: Lynx
Editions.
Feedhole, S. L., and Anderson, S.

stable large breeding colonies in Tamil Nadu:

Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary, Koonthangulam Bird Sanctuary, Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary, and Karikilli Bird
Sanctuary. Lack of awareness, poaching of eggs/chicks,

pollution, fire, and extensive fishing activities, cutting of nesting trees and drought are the existing major threats to SPB and its habitats. Although, casualties due to collision with above-ground high density power lines were also observed in some breeding and foraging sites, it needs further detailed investigation. A synchronized census is recommended at everywetland during the early and late breeding seasons of the Spotbilled Pelican.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I thank the Department of Science And Technology for

H.

1995 Foraging areas

and feeding habitat selection of American White Pelicans Pelecnnus erythrorhyncfuos nesting at

Pathfinder Reservoir, Wyoming. Colonial

Waterbirds 1.8(1.): 47-57. Hatzilacou, D.1996 Feeding ecology of the Great White P elican P elecanus ono cr otalus nesting at Lake Mikri

Prespa (northern Greece) Colonial Waterbirds

1.9:790-206. Islam, M. Z & Rahmani, A.R. 2004. Important Bird Areas in

India: Priority Sites for Conservation. Indian Bird Conservation Network: Bombay Natural History
Society, Bombay, India and Birdl-ife International,

funding the study under the SERC-Young Scientist Scheme. I am highly indebted to Tamil Nadu Forest
Department for granting me the required permission, Academy of Higher Education, National College and

Cambridge, UK

IDEAWILD

for their

academic support and

encouragement. I am grateful to Mr.V.Kannan, Research

Joint Committee Report. 2003. Threats to Pallikaranai wetland and need for its immediate remedial measures. Joint Committee, Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India,
New Delhi.
Kannan, V. and Manakadan, R. 2005. Status and distribution

Scholar, AVC College, N.Sheeba, Research Scholar, SACON, Dr.Muthukrishnan, Anesthesiologist, AVM hospital, Tuticorin, Gayathree Krishnaa, Chennai, and
Mr. S.Bharahthidasan, Director, Arulagam, Coimbatore, who responded and also to others who responded to my request posted in Tamilbirds@yahoogroup.co.in, an

of Spot-billed Pelican in southern India. Forktail

(21):9-14

Li,Z.W.D., Bloem, A., Delany

e-group. I thank Mr. P.Senthilkumar for helping me preparing maps.

REFERENCES

S., Martakis G. and Quintero I.O. 2009. Status of waterbirds in Asia - Results of the Asian Waterbird Census: '1987-2007. Wetlands International, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Pittie, A. 2005. A bibliographic index to the ornithology of the Indian Subcontinent. CDROM published by the
author.
Raj.P.P.N., Ranjini, J., Dhanya, R., Subramanian, l., Azeez,

Ali,

S. and Ripley, S.

D. L987. Compact handbook of the birds of India and Pakistan. Delhi: Oxford
University Press.
state

Anonymous report: http: / / envfor.nic.in/soer / S oE % 20r ep or tVo 20 of % 20T amilnadu. p df

P.A., & Bhupathy, S 2010. Consolidated checklist of birds in the Pallikaranai Wetlands, Chennai, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 2(8):1114-1118.
Ramsar Convention Secretariat, 2006 The Ramsar Conaention Manual: a Guide to the Conaention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 197 1), 4th ed. Gland, Switzerland:. Subramanya.
S. 2005.

Azeez,P.A.,S. Bhupathy.,J. Ranjini., R. Dhanya & Raj, P.P.N. 2007. Management Plan for the Eco-restoration of Pallikaranai Reserae Forest. Report. Salim Ali Centre

for Ornithology and Natural

Coimbatore, 62pp.

History,

Heronries of Tamil Nadu. Indian Birds

Vol.

1. No.6.

pp: 726-740
J

Birdlife International. 2001. Threatened birds of Asia: the Birdlife International Red Data Book. Cambridge, U.K.: Birdlife International.

The Hindu. 2006. The marshland gone waste (report by

Vencatesan). http:/ / www.thehindu.com/ thehindu / pp / 2006 / 07 / 01, / stories /

006070100040100.htm.

BirdLife International.

2071. Species fact sheet: Downloaded from http: / / www.birdlife.org on 06 / 05 / 20i t.

Pelecanus philippensis.

Wetlands International. 2002. Waterbird population

estimates. Thirdedition. Wetlandslnternational Global Series No.12. Wageningen, Netherlands:

Care Earth. 2002. Conservation of Urban Wetlands Pallikaranai Marsh. Tamil Nadu Pollution Control
Board,31pp.
www. bvgt-journal.com

Wetlands International.

October to December 2011

Scientific Transactions in Environment and Technovation