There was a time when large swathes of migratory birds flocked the bird sanctuary in the non-descript village of Munderi in Kannur District. Those days the panchayat used to erect a board at the entrance to inform outsiders of their special visitors. To help the birds perch above the water, the villagers built several poles in the water. According to locals I met there, the arrival of birds has drastically reduced in recent years. Reason? The unmitigated ingress of brackish water into the surrounding paddy fields. The grass that offered protection and food to the migratory birds could not survive in the brackish water. I hope the district administration will take urgent steps to revive this pristine place and restore it to its old glory.
