KAKINADA: Rapid industrialisation in the area covered by East Godavari estuarine ecosystem (Egree), stretching from Kakinada to S. Yanam through the Coringa wildlife sanctuary, poses a threat to waders that migrate during winter.

The mud and tidal flats in the region support waders. Water birds like lesser sand plover, black-tailed godwit, Curlew sandpiper and little stini are the most abundant species in the region.

The Egree region plays an important role for the fragile wader groups in the Central Asian Flyway (CAF); the wader populations are indicators of the effective food supply and healthy status of the wetland.

The Egree Foundation, a project involving the UN Development Programme and the Centre and state governments, carries out a bird census during January at the end of the winter season.

“The major threat observed to the water birds was habitat loss” said P. Sathiya Selvam, conservation biologist with the Egree Foundation.

The Egree area is witnessing industrialisation and filling of the mud and sand flats around Kakinda, Coringa and Gadimoga for industrial and aquaculture expansion.

As per the survey, there were 12,200 birds in Kakinada Bay in 2012 and 29,500 birds in the stretch from Kakinada to S. Yanam through the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary in 2013. The next survey will be held on January 25 and 26.