Bar-headed goose tagged in Mongolia noticed at Koonthankulam Hen Sanctuary

The bar-headed goose can cowl distances of greater than 1,600 km in a day, and this hen is thought for reaching excessive altitudes of 29,500 toes throughout its twice-yearly migrations throughout the Himalayas. Picture: Particular Association

A bar-headed goose, which was tagged in Mongolia in July 2014, has been noticed in Koonthankulam – Kadankulam Birds Sanctuary within the district.

The bar-headed goose, a local of East and South Asia, is among the iconic winter migratory hen species that arrive at Koonthankulam-Kadankulam Hen Sanctuary. They are often simply recognized by their signature white and gray plumage with distinct black bars on the top and their orange-yellow beaks and legs. Throughout the flight, these birds seem to have all-grey plumage with black wing ideas. They feed on grass, aquatic vegetation and infrequently bugs.

The bar-headed goose can cowl distances of greater than 1,600 km in a day, and this hen is thought for reaching excessive altitudes of 29,500 toes throughout its twice-yearly migrations throughout the Himalayas.

On the night of January 28, M. Mathivanan, Senior Analysis Affiliate, ATREE’s Agasthyamalai Neighborhood Conservation Centre, Manimutharu and Balachandar, a videographer from Chennai, sighted a inexperienced colour-banded bar-headed goose at Kadankulam tank, which is a part of the sanctuary. The band was marked ‘F60’. As Mr. Balachandar was lucky to have clicked the photograph of the hen , it has been confirmed that the hen had been tagged in Mongolia.

“We know that the green colour band is used by Mongolian ornithologists, so we sent an email to N. Tseveenmyadag, Senior Ornithologist, Wildlife Science and Conservation Centre of Mongolia. He replied that this green colour band F60 bird was captured and marked Nyambayar B. (WSCC of Mongolia) on July 7, 2014 at the Northwest Bay of the Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake in province Arkhangai of Central Mongolia,” says Mr. Mathivanan.

 The seize location is N48.151395, E99.584116 and this hen was recognized as an grownup male and weighed 2,340 gm.

 “I have received information that this bird with the number F60 has been registered twice in India. On December 28, 2017, T. Ganesh, Prashanth M.B, Saravana A. and Chiyan reported sightings near Moolaikaraipatti in Tirunelveli district. After that, on April 3, 2018, Chandra S. saw and sent a photo of an F60 bar-headed goose at Hadinari Lake in Mysore,” recalled Mr. Tseveenmyadag.

 “As Tirunelveli district received below-average rainfall during the northeast monsoon in 2022, there is not enough water in Koonthankulam-Kadankulam Birds Sanctuary but still, these tanks support good avian fauna. The local people of Koonthankulam village support bird conservation efforts taken by the Forest Department. The Public Works Department and District Administration need to consider giving preference of supplying water on time to the Koonthankulam-Kadankulam birds’ sanctuary from Manimuthar dam in order to conserve the birds as well recognize the local community’s generosity,” Mr. Mathivanan stated.