Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Apr 9: Thousands of seabirds thrive in the open ocean, rarely visiting land. To study these elusive creatures, the Coastal Karnataka Birdwatchers Network recently conducted a pelagic bird survey—a challenging expedition into the deep sea.
Last week, an 11-member team embarked on a two-day voyage, covering 105 km into the Arabian Sea. Spending a night aboard their research vessel, they documented numerous seabirds, including rare sightings like the Masked Booby and Brown Noddy. Excitingly, a penguin flock was also spotted—an unusual find in these waters.
Key observations:
- Birds spotted: Bridled Terns, Greater & Lesser Crested Terns, Common Terns, White-cheeked Terns, and Saunders’ Terns.
- Marine life: Parasitic Jaegers, Pomarine Jaegers, and Long-tailed Jaegers skimming waves; 30–40 spinner dolphins leaping playfully.
- Participants: Researchers from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, North India, and two international experts—Chris Bowden and Minna Farah Bowden from the UK.
Why Study Pelagic Birds?
Most seabirds live far from coasts, making them hard to monitor. These surveys track:
Population trends, migration patterns, food availability, discovery of new species.
Expedition challenges:
"Tracking birds from a rocking boat isn’t easy," said Prashanth Krishna, the survey coordinator. "Many species stay distant, but we still logged significant data."
Concerning trend:
Near the shelf edge (where depth drops sharply from 80 ft to 200 ft), fewer birds were seen—possibly linked to declining fish stocks.