2008

MONITORING REPORT ON PITTI BIRD SANCTUARY, LAKSHADWEEP-INDIA

LAKSHADWEEP MARINE RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION CENTRE LAKSHADWEEP - INDIA

Page |2

MONITORING REPORT ON PITTI BIRD SANCTUARY, Lakshadweep, India

Jafer Hisham and Idrees Babu

Lakshadweep Marine Research and Conservation Centre Lakshadweep India

November 2008

Page |3

COVER PHOTO Aerial view of Pitti Island, Sayed Ali. M, Department of Information Publicity and Tourism, Administration of U.T of Lakshadweep, India.

CITATION Jafer Hisham, Idrees Babu, 2008 .Monitoring Report on Pitti Bird Sanctuary, Lakshadweep India. Lakshadweep Marine Research and Conservation Centre, Kavaratti Island, Lakshadweep, India. While LMRCC reserves all rights for this publication, any portion of it may be freely copied and distributed, provided appropriate credit is given. Any commercial use of this material is prohibited without prior permission. LMRCC would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication that uses this publication as a source. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of information in this report, LMRCC accepts no responsibility for losses, damage, costs and other consequences resulting directly or indirectly from its use. Published by the Lakshadweep Marine Research and conservation Centre (LMRCC) under its SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS FOR SUSTAINABLE FUTURE INITIATIVE.

AVAILABLE FROM: Lakshadweep Marine Research and Conservation Centre (LMRCC) Pittiyathala, Sandy Beach, Kavarati Island U.T of Lakshadweep, India -682555
+ 91 9746544553, + 91 9447192561 jaferhisham@gmail.com, idreesbabu@gmail.com

Page |4

Table of Contents
Acknowledgements...................................................................................................................... 5 IBA Lakshadweep ......................................................................................................................... 6 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 7 General description on Pitti .......................................................................................................... 7 Avifauna ...................................................................................................................................... 8 Terns and Tuna fishing in Lakshadweep ........................................................................................ 8 Lakshadweep Marine Research and Conservation Centre .............................................................. 9 Aim of study .............................................................................................................................. 10 Methods of study....................................................................................................................... 10 Observations ............................................................................................................................. 11 Pollution In Pitti ......................................................................................................................... 12 Discussions ................................................................................................................................ 13 Threats and Conservation issues................................................................................................. 15 Recommendations ..................................................................................................................... 16 References................................................................................................................................. 17

Page |5

Acknowledgements

We take this opportunity to express our gratitude to all the people who helped us in this work, from the time of its inception to its conclusion. Our Grateful thanks go to Dr Asad Rahmani, Director Bombay Natural History Society whose concern for birds gave the necessary impetus for this study. He was always inspirational to us with advices and guidelines. We record our deep gratitude to the Chief Wildlife Warden, U.T of Lakshadweep Shri. G. Kumar I.F.S for providing the permits required for the study and for his sustained involvement in the study. Dr. Sayed Ali, K.P Mohammed and Cheriya Koya, Environmental Wardens were always available for advice and help. We are indebted to Andrea Agnes Deri, LEAD International UK for her invaluable support to LMRCC from its formation to till date. We acknowledge with thanks Mr Deepak Apte, Assistant Director BNHS for his continued support and inspiration to LMRCC. We are thankful to Mrs. Mittali Dutt Kakkar, Director Reef Watch Marine Conservation and Member National board for Wildlife, GOI for her valuable advice and support for LMRCC. We are also thankful Dr M. Nasser, Lecturer, Department of Zoology, University of Calicut, Kerala for his comments and advice on the draft of this report. Thanks to Abdu, Anver, Hussain and Thayib at LMRCC for their dedication and continued inspiration for the protection of marine biodiversity of Lakshadweep.

Authors

Page |6

Important Bird Areas in India - Lakshadweep Pitti Bird Sanctuary

IBA Site Code: IN-LD-01 State: Lakshadweep Islands District: Lakshadweep Islands

Coordinates: 10 46' 54" N, 73 31' 59" E Ownership: State Area: 1.21 ha Altitude: 2 - 6 m Rainfall: 1,500 mm Temperature: 17 C to 38 C

Biogeography Zone: Islands Habitats: Sandy Island, Reef

Page |7

INTRODUCTION
Lakshadweep is an archipelago consisting of 12 atolls, 3 reefs, and 5 submerged banks. It is located between 8 15' - 11 45' North and 72 00' - 74 00' East, 220-440 Kms away from the coastal city of Kochi in Kerala. Lakshadweep is a Union Territory with an area of 32 sq km and has 11 inhabited islands. Reefs are mainly atolls, with a low lying island on the east , a broad, well developed reef on the west, with a lagoon in between, connected to the open ocean by one or several channels. The islands have a lagoon area of 4,200 sq.kms, territorial waters of 20,000 sq kms and 4 lakh sq.kms of exclusive economic zone.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF PITTI

Lying about 24 kms North West of Kavaratti, Pitti is an uninhabited, completely barren island with a sandbank and with large numbers of pelagic birds nesting on it. It is about 1.21 hectares in area and has no lagoon. The island is mostly made up of broken coral and coarse sand. The island is a low plateau rising 2 m, above msl at high tide, with sloping beaches and rock ledges. The island was formed by the accumulation of coral sand in the form of a sandbank with the action of the wind, waves and currents. The island is devoid of vegetation. The Central area of the Pitti locally called Fakkiya Kadu is slightly sunken into a shallow crater, where terns nest.

SAYED ALI, IP&T, U.T OF LAKSHADWEEP

Page |8

AVIFAUNA
The island has been known from the early 19th century to harbor many varieties of terns, with numbers known to exceed 20,000 individuals. Pitti is the breeding ground for four species of terns: Sooty Tern Sterna fuscata, Great Crested Tern S. bergii, Bridled Tern S. anaethetus and Brown Noddy Anous stolidus (Betts 1938, Kurup and Zacharias 1994). This island is of great importance as breeding colonies of pelagic birds are rare in the Indian Territory.

TUNA FISHING AND TERNS IN LAKSHADWEEP

Terns play an important role in the marine ecosystem of Lakshadweep as energy transmitters from sea to land. The people of this archipelago have been traditionally depending on the coconut and fish for subsistence for centuries with a specialized economy focusing on pole and line tuna fishing. Pole and line fisheries in fact comprises of two separate fisheries: an off shore one for tuna and inshore one for live baits. Live baits are the small fishes used for tuna fishing such as Spratelloides sp commonly called sprat. It is no exaggeration to say that the well being of the Lakshadweep fishermen depends on the success of the pole and line tuna fishery, which in turn depends on the availability of live baits.

JAFER HISHAM/LMRCC

Spratelloides japonicus, a common resource shared by the Terns, Tuna and the people.

Page |9

The island fishermen set out for the pole and line fishing by collecting the live baits in the early hours of the morning some time as early as 4:00 am. Once enough bait is collected the boats sail to the open sea in search of tuna shoal, looking for the congregation of sea birds flying on the open ocean. The local fisher folk are keenly aware of the phenomenon, that both the terns and tuna are attracted by small fishes like Spratelloides sp (sprat) in the ocean which are the important food sources that they share. Sprats are surface shoaling fishes that are found in lagoon as well as in the open sea. Flocks of terns follow these shoals and are frequently seen feeding and hovering around areas where the shoals come to the surface. The terns indicate the tuna shoal to the fishermen thus helping them to find tuna shoal from very long distance and play an important role in supporting their livelihood. Thus the breeding terns of Pitti are highly beneficial to the fishing community and their livelihood.

LAKSHADWEEP MARINE RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION CENTRE (LMRCC)

Lakshadweep Marine Research and Conservation Centre is an organization committed to conservation and sustainable development of the Lakshadweeps coral reef ecosystems. We work closely with the local community. Our vision is a sustainably progressing Lakshadweep where coral reefs are healthy and well-managed. The team members are from the island community and also maintain strong collaborations with colleagues in other countries. The central coordinating office is housed at the Sandy Beach Cultural and Eco Tourism Society, Kavaratti Island. The organization has a volunteer network covering all the island of Lakshadweep. Most of our volunteers are fisherman who often visits uninhabited islands of Suheli, Thinakara, Parali, cheriyam and submerged reefs namely cheriyapani, Bygamore Perumalpar and submerged bank of Elikalpeni for fishing. Lakshadweep Marine Research and Conservation Centre enjoy the support of Department of Fisheries, Administration of Union Territory of Lakshadweep, Lakshadweep Dive Club and Fisherman welfare association in Kavaratti Island. We work with various stakeholders including fishermen, youth, students and women groups for the sustainable and wise use of coral reefs. Lakshadweep Marine Research and Conservation Centre is organizational partner in the Indian Bird Conservation Network (IBCN).

P a g e | 10

AIM OF THE STUDY

Pitti Island was declared as a bird sanctuary on December 2001 through a notification in the official gazetteer. Eggs were collected from Pitti by local people for last many years. Earlier people used rowing boats to reach Pitti and collect eggs, and this was not possible to many. The introduction of boats and outboard engines for fisheries development in the territory opened new avenues of fishing grounds. This mechanization also took a toll over the birds of Pitti as this island become easily accessible for egg collection. The scientific studies available point out the reducing population structure in Pitti. The birds of Pitti Island and the ecology of terns in Lakshadweep are less studied. The present study was undertaken by a research team from LMRCC with the help of local Fisher folk from Kavaratti. The main objectives were, To observe the species composition in Pitti. Estimate the numbers of terns at Pitti. The factors threatening the survival of birds. To investigate the recent reports on fewer terns observed.

METHODS OF STUDY
Observations were made after landing in Pitti using small boat. During our present visit on November 2008 an Indian Naval Team surveying in the area helped us to land safely in their motorized rib. Birds were counted while they were resting on the ground. Species richness and abundance was also recorded. Photographic documentation was made with still and video cameras. All observations were made during the day light hours. We made 3 visits to Pitti viz: in December 2005, January 2007 and November 2008 and observed birds. We also collected data on waste material found in Pitti. One to one interviews with old and young local tuna fishermen from Kavaratti and Agatti were also used for collecting information. Published literature on Pitti was also referred.

P a g e | 11

OBSERVATIONS
We observed the following species of birds in Pitti. Sooty tern (Sterna fusacta) Noody Tern (Anous stolidus) Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)

Noody Tern JAFER HISHAM

Sooty Tern IDREES BABU

On our first visit in December 2005 we observed lots of sooty and Noody terns and there was no nesting. On our second visit on January 2007 we found many breeding Sooty and Noody terns. We also observed some eggs. We also learned from an Indian Naval ship surveying near Pitti that during their last visit in 2007 they observed many birds but they could not confirm whether they were nesting (Per comm.) . In our recent visit in November 2008 no nesting activity was observed. Birds were less in numbers; we could count only 123 Noody Terns in 2 separate flocks. Sooty terns recorded were also was less in number compared to our earlier visits. We have recorded 42 dead Noody Terns on Pitti; most of them were decomposed with fleshy parts eaten by hermit crabs and some dried in hot sun. We could observe only one freshly dead bird. In many areas heaps of feathers were observed indicating earlier death. All the dead birds recorded were of Noody Terns, No Sooty Terns were seen on the Island. The live Noody Terns observed were found weak; Birds were too weak to fly off allowing researchers to catch them by hand, which is very unusual. The birds counted during the present survey are listed in table 1.

Table: 1. Bird estimates during 2008 survey.

Island Pitti ST 50 NT 123 LrCT LsCT Remarks Many dead Noody Terns. 42 recently dead Noody Terns, most of them decomposed

P a g e | 12

ST= Sooty Tern, NT = Noddy Tern, LrCT =Large Crested Tern, LsCT = Lesser Crested Tern In addition we recorded about 20 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres in our present survey.

Dead birds observed in Pitti ABDULLA KOYA, IDREES BABU/LMRCC

POLLUTION IN PITTI
Marine debris is one of the worlds most pervasive pollution problem affecting our seas and oceans. By the simple process of moving from ship to sea, sewer to surf, or hand to sand, any manufactured material becomes marine debris. Thousands of marine animals die each year from becoming entangled in debris or from consuming it. The beaches and the central area (Pakkiya Kadu) in Pitti are polluted with waste materials. In 2005 we have observed the decayed carcass of one Noody tern with a plastic material entangled in its mouth. Marine debris found over Piiti during our November 2008 survey is summarized in table 3.

P a g e | 13

Table: 3. Marine debris found over Pitty.

SNo 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Item Plastic bottles Glass bottles Alcohol Bottles Footwear Wooden pieces Tube light Shampoo Bottles Inhaler Lighter Rope Pieces Nos observed 45 28 9 21 16 2 6 3 5 25

JAFER HISHAM/LMRCC

ABDULLA KOYA/LMRCC

DISCUSSIONS
The islanders from Kavaratti, Agatti and Amini were using Pitti Island from olden days when the availability of food resources were limited on the islands. As this island was undisturbed and supported many terns, a mere visit to Pitti Island will give them a handful of eggs which they shared with their family and neighbors. Thus this island was providing them with the much needed protein. In olden days access to Pitti was limited because only rowing boats were available at that time and only adventurous people opted out to visit Pitti. They also were not collecting many eggs as their country crafts were small and they had to travel long distances to reach their island.

P a g e | 14

Interviews with old fishermen revealed that Pitti was also helping them as a navigational reference during night time. When their traditional sailing vessels (Odams) pass near Pitti they can get the smell of the island (The Island is rich with Guano deposits) and the bird calls.

Odam SAYED FATHAHULLA

A planned program for the development of fisheries in Lakshadweep was started with the establishment of the fisheries department in the year 1959. The department started supplying mechanized boats in 1963 and promoted pole and line Tuna fishery, In addition the department also supplied out board motors to use in country crafts. Since the introduction of new fishing methods, fish landing has leaped from 500 tons in 1960 to 7200 tons by 1988. This program was a success and fishermen adopted this method to fish in distant fishing grounds. The development which provided a boom in the fishery sector of Lakshadweep has proved detrimental to the nesting birds of Pitti Island in another aspect. Mechanization has made reaching Pitti less laborious and many fishermen fish near Pitti waters as these areas are believed to yield good fish catches. They also started collecting eggs in large quantities in their big mechanized boats compared to earlier small country crafts. The number of terns is getting reduced from year to year as per the available data. The level of exploitation of the bird eggs may lead to very serious problems which will in turn affect the tuna fishing based local economy. The local fishermen locate tuna shoals in the open ocean with the help of feeding terns, thus reducing their scouting time and energy and fuel. Thus terns are an integral part of Lakshadweep fishing practices. The discussions and surveys among the local tuna fishermen revealed that the collection of eggs is a part time activity in addition to fishing. Some fishermen believe that Tern eggs have medicinal properties and are good for small children. Scientific studies revealed that Pitti supports 4 species of terns. Pitti Island is the only oceanic bird sanctuary India has and it has a global significance. Pitti is the only IBA site (Important Bird area) in Lakshadweep. A survey by ELA Foundation, Ecological Society, Pune together with Indian coast Guard in 2006 recorded breeding colonies of terns only in Pitti

P a g e | 15

and Cheriyapani. They also found that Pitti is having high distribution of terns compared to Cheriyapani, Bygamore, Suheli Pitty (Karinga Kuppu), Kavaratti Island and other islands. The present study was carried out to assess the population of birds and also to learn about the recent mass mortality of terns in Pitti, reported by our fishermen volunteers. The 2006 survey ELA foundation documented 16,360 birds which was a welcome sign compared to 8000 birds reported by Madras Naturalists society survey in 1991. In our present survey we could only count 123 Noody terns and 50 Sooty terns. We also found 42 dead birds and traces of more birds. This indicates the birds of Pitti are facing threats that are anthropogenic and also from diseases. Recently we have encountered a Brown Noody tagged in Seychelles in eastern side of Amini Island. The continental shelf of Pitti is extending up to the vicinity of Amini Island. But we could not find any tagged birds in Pitti either dead or alive. This indicates that the terns in Indian Ocean may be visiting nearby islands groups.

THREATS AND CONSERVATION ISSUES

The main threats to Pitti Island are natural (Heavy rains and predation by crabs) and anthropogenic (Collection of eggs and chicks). Although the island is uninhabited fisher folk visit Pitti waters for live bait collection and fishing, during these trips they also collects eggs. Guano collection is reported and documented in Cheriyapani by some researchers, but our discussions with fishermen revealed that they are not used to collection of Guano from Pitti. Marine debris like plastic, used and leaking batteries, electric glass bulbs, bottles, cigarette cartons, cans, etc., is observed in Pitti which will be disastrous for birds and chicks. Lack of regular monitoring help poachers to exploit birds and eggs. Another major problem is the lack of the awareness among fishermen about the importance of these terns in their livelihood.

P a g e | 16

RECOMMENDATIONS Research
Detailed management plans have to be developed for Pitti bird Sanctuary. A comprehensive monitoring program should be designed for Pitti and monitoring should be conducted every month and also bird count has to be conducted pre and post monsoon to know the population trend. Bird surveys have to be organized every two years in inhabited, uninhabited islands and in open reefs of Lakshadweep. Tagging and tracking studies have to be initiated to study the breeding and foraging range of Lakshadweeps terns. research and conservation organizations in the Indian ocean regions.

Networking and data sharing protocols have be to developed along with marine bird

Conservation
A marine bird monitoring and conservation initiative has to be launched with adequate representation with fisher folk, local people and Lakshadweep Environment & Forests Department with the help of international initiatives like Global Sea Bird Programme of Bird Life International. Education and awareness program has to be initiated for the local islanders, fishermen ,school students and tourists with education and outreach materials An interpretation center has to be developed in the islands of Kavaratti and Agatti.

P a g e | 17

REFERENCES
Anonymous (1991) Pitti Island, Lakshadweep: an ornithological study. Madras Naturalist Society, Madras. Betts, F. N. (1938) The breeding of the Indian Sooty Tern (Sterna fuscata infuscata) in the Laccadive Islands. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc 40: 382-387. Daniels, R. J. R (1991) Island biogeography of birds of the Lakshadweep archipelago, Indian Ocean. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 88:320-328. Kurup, D. N. and Zacharias, V. J. (1994) Birds of Lakshadweep Islands. Forktail 10: 49-64. Mathew, D. N., Mathew, G. and Gandhi, T. (1996) Breeding season of the terns Sterna fuscata and Anous stolidus in the Lakshadweep. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 93: 507-510. Pande, S., Sant, N. R., Ranade, S. D., Pednekar, S. N., Mestry, P. G., Kharat, S. S. & Deshmukh, V. 2007. An ornithological expedition to the Lakshadweep archipelago: Assessment of threats to pelagic and other birds and recommendations. Indian Birds 3 (1): 212. B, Tripathy.2002.A Sanctuary for terns in the Arabian Sea. Wildlife Institute of India, News letter Volume 9, Number 4, Winter 2002. Thirty years of fisheries development in Lakshadweep, Department of fisheries, U.T of Lakshadweep, Kavaratti. 1900

P a g e | 18

Lakshadweep Marine Research and Conservation Centre Our seas our future 2008