Over-summering shorebirds at the Kerala coasts, west-coast of India

Abstract

Over-summering is a phenomenon usually exhibited by migratory shorebirds. Those individuals that over-summer at their wintering grounds appear to be sexually immature or unfit to meet the risks of migration. Documentation of such migratory shorebirds are scanty along the Indian coasts and the present study focused on recording the over-summering shorebirds at five sites (Kappad Beach, Korappuzha Beach, Elathur Beach, Ariyallur Beach and Kadalundi-Vallikkunnu Community Reserve) along the west coast of India during 2021–2022. Over-summering shorebird species were identified and documented once in a week using a binocular, a spotting scope and a 4 K high speed motion latest video camera. Six species of over-summering shorebirds (Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus, Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii, Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva, Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus, Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos and Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres) were recorded from the five study areas and their abundance were observed to be declining during the study period.

Keywords

• Shorebirds
• Over-summering
• Abundance
• Coastal beach