Birding in Thekkady

By Meena Baehner

From October till mid March species count is higher with migrant populations and climatic conditions being drier with more light falling in through the forest canopy. The Periyar Lake and the surrounding evergreen forest offer roughly 230 species of birds including important migrants like the Indian Pitta which appears soon after the major South West monsoon.

The bird list includes Black Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle and the Changeable Hawk Eagle, the Malabar Grey Hornbill, Malabar Pied Hornbill and the Great Hornbill. Some of the several nocturnal birds are the Brown Fish Owl, Brown Hawk Owl, Jungle Owlets and Spotted Owlet. Songbirds include several Fly Catchers, thrushes like the endemic Malabar Whistling Thrush, Wynaad Laughing Thrush and several species of warblers, including the Large Billed Warbler. Some species of Tits include the pretty Black Lored Tit and the Grey Tit.

The Flame Throated Bulbul and flocks of Asian Fairy Blue Birds are easier to see in Gavi, one of the most pristine birding areas contiguous to Periyar Lake and Thekkady. Gavi is also excellent for clear views of Tree creeping Velvet Fronted Nuthatches and the Chestnut Bellied Sitta.

Other important endemics are the Indian Blackbird, the Brown Cheeked Fulvetta, the rare Malayan Night Heron and the White Bellied Flycatcher. Three species of Myna are resident here with the Hill Myna being the most mellifluous. Another mellifluous song bird is the White Rumped Shama. The White Bellied Tree Pie confines itself mostly to good forest cover. On occasions it joins the more common Southern Tree Pie in gardens. The Racket Tailed Drongo is a common bird seen in gardens, making its raucous presence felt by imitating other bird calls, domestic cats, besides an occasional mobile ring tone!

Woodpeckers like the Common Flameback and the Lesser Flameback are also common garden birds. The more shy Woodpeckers like the Rufous Woodpecker, the minute Speckled Piculet and the White Bellied Woodpecker need a seasoned guide to spot. Kingfishers include the White Throated Kingfisher, Common Kingfisher and the Pied Kingfisher. Other water birds include Slaty Legged Crake, Purple Heron, Asian Open Bill, Wooly Necked Storks and the Lesser Whistling Duck. Babblers include the Indian Scimitar Babbler Jungle Babbler, Rufous Babbler, Quaker Babbler, Dark Fronted Babbler and the Puff Throated Babbler. Sunbirds include the Small Sunbird, Purple Sunbird and also the Little Spiderhunter.

The large broad leaved forest cover, patches of deciduous and moist deciduous habitat, meadows and grassland, an unpolluted water body, diverse flora and fauna and the salubrious climate make bird watching in Thekkady and Gavi a memorable experience..