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Kerala Bird Atlas 2015–20: features, outcomes and implications of a citizen-science project

J. Praveen 1, P. O. Nameer 2, Ashish Jha 3, Anish Aravind 4, K. G. Dilip 5, Dipu Karuthedathu 6, George Tom 1, Hari Mavelikara 7, Harikumar Mannar 8, Jafer Palot 9, Jaichand Johnson 10, R. Jishnu 11, K. Maxim Rodrigues 12, P. M. Mujeeb 13, L. Namassivayan 14, Naveelal Payyeri 13, P. P. Nesrudheen 6, S. Prasanth Narayanan 8, S. S. Prasanth 6, M. C. Prashantha Krishna 12, E. S. Praveen 15, Praveen Velayudhan 14, Premchand Reghuvaran 5, Raju Kidoor 12, R. L. Rathish 16, R. Roshnath 17, C. Sashikumar 9, Satyan Meppayur 9, A. K. Sivakumar 10, A. K. Sreedevi 8, B. Sreekumar 8, E. R. Sreekumar 18, P. B. Sumesh 19, R. Venugopal 14, Vinod Venugopal 20, C. K. Vishnudas 21, Vishnupriyan Kartha 5, Vivek Puliyeri 6, Suhel Quader 22, Abinand Reddy 22, Abdul Raheem Puthiyeri 9, K. Abdul Riyas 9, R. S. Abhijith 8, Abhijith Surendran 8, Abhin M. Sunil 18, Abhinand Chandran 13, C. Abhirami 18, Abhirami M. Jayakumar 18, Abhishek Sebastian Peter 10, N. V. Afreed Muhammed 22, Afthab Faisal Katakath 18, P. Ajai 8, Aju K. Raju 7, P. M. Akhil 14, U. S. Akhil 16, U. S. Amal 23, Anamika Menon 24, Anas Ibinu Ansari 15, K. S. Aneesh 10, S. Aneesh 7, C. Anjana Hari 18, R. Anjitha 12, P. N. Anoop Raj 25, Anu John 11, Anuradha Varma 5, S. S. Anushreedha 10, C. K. Aravind 9, Arjun Ramachandran 18, B. Arun 6, Arun George 15, Arun P. Gopi 19, Arun Varghese 5, Arya Vinod 14, Ashley Shaji 10, V. M. Ashok Raj 6, Ashwin Viswanathan 22, Aslam Mohammed 9, A. Aswin 18, K. S. Aswin 18, A. Azhar Ali 18, P. B. Balaji 26, M. Bibin Paul 16, J. Chaithra Shree 26, Chandrasekaran Venkatraman 1, K. Charutha 12, Clareena T. Jose 18, Clince P. Jose 9, Dalip Singh 18, Devika Sanghamithra 18, Digvijay Singh Sikarwar 5, Divin Murukesh 6, V. Divin 1, Fauzia Arief 5, Jaydev Mandal 22, P. J. Sarlin 10, A. Adil Nafar 6, K. H. Amitha Bachan 27, V. Rejitha 7, R. S. Vishnu Dev 16, B. Elias Rowther 10, Firosh Raja 18, Geetha Iyer 1, Ginu George 5, T. U. Gireesan 8, P. K. Girish Mohan 9, Glen Preetesh Dsouza 12, G. Govind 10, P. Greeshma 15, P. M. Hari Prasad 8, T. V. Hariharan 9, A. Harith 10, C. Harith 12, B. Hemanth 10, Ijaas Mohamed 5, J. Patrick David 5, P. K. Jain 22, P. Jameela 15, G. Jayakrishnan 8, K. Jishnu 9, M. O. Jismi 18, Jithin Johnson 5, C. Joel Soniya 10, Jose Rani Babu 18, Joseph Roy 10, Jyothish Nelson 8, M. Jyothi Krishnan 18, K. Pranav Bhandary 12, K. M. Jamaludheen 5, Kavingal Ravi 14, Karthik Thrikkadeeri 14, Kausthubh K. Nair 5, B. S. Kiran 21, Kiran S. Kumar 10, D. Kishore Raj 10, Kishore Kumar Panaganti 22, M. Krishna Moorthy 14, R. Krishna Murthy 1, M. R. Krishnanunni 18, Latha Prabhakaran 5, K. K. Lathika 6, Libin Abraham 7, G. Hari Narayanan 8, Madhumita Panigrahi 28, S. Manav 14, Manoj Karingamadathil 15, T. R. Manoj 26, Manu Thomas 10, P. P. Manuel 15, Mebin George Varghese 8, P. Megha Chandran 12, M. Mohammad Sulaiman 14, Mohammed Ashif Madathil 6, V. K. Mohammed Hirash 9, K. Mohammed Ramees 10, M. Sadique Thirunnavaya 6, A. P. Muhammed Niyas 10, C. T. Muhasin 6, Mukundan Kizhakkemadham 5, Naseerudheen Abdul Azeez 14, P. V. Nikhil 10, C. Niranjana 29, Nisha Mundekad 30, Nithin Mohan 10, A. Pavithra 5, Poornima Viswanathan 9, P. Pramod 28, G. Prakash 26, S. Prasath 26, Prasoon Prakash 10, N. Preethi 14, Rahul Rajeevan 22, M. Rajaguru 14, V. Rajarajan 1, Raju Sankaran 15, K. Ratheesh 10, Rayan Pradeep Crasta 12, Remya Mohan 14, Renju 19, Robin C. Koshy 7, Rohan Rai 12, Roshin Tom 22, Sachin Chandran 9, M. V. Sachinkrishna 18, M. V. Saeed Anvar Ali 14, Sajitha Siril 18, D. D. Samarth Bharadwaj 22, Samuel George 22, Sancia Morris 10, Sandeep Augustine 5, Sandeep K. Das 5, Sandie Morris 10, P. R. Sandra 15, T. K. Sanuraj 12, Saurabh Sawant 1, Savio Morris 10, K. Selvaganesh 20, K. Shahil 22, N. N. Shahina 18, Shahul Valasy 9, P. K. Siji 15, Siju Joseph 7, R. Sivashankar 15, Siyad A. Karim 7, Sreehari K. Mohan 18, Sreehari M. Pillai 11, M. Sri Sowmiya 9, K. T. Srinila 6, K. S. Subin 15, V. G. Sujith 10, Suryamol Sukumaran 10, M. S. Syamili 18, Tarun Menon 14, Tejas Praveen 1, S. A. Thilak 5, Tony Antony 31, U. R Ullas 32, Vinod Ooralath Sivaji 7, Vishnu Narayanan 10, M. Vishnu Sreejith 9, A. Vivek Chandran 15, Vivek Sudhakaran 14, R. Vridhi 15, Wahiba Irshad Humam 18, Yadukrishna J. Uchummal 22, M. A. Yathumon 9

Affiliations
1 KeralaBirder, Ambadi, Kunnathurmedu, Palakkad 678 013, India, India
2 College of Climate Change and Environmental Science, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India; Department of Wildlife Science, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India, India
3 College of Climate Change and Environmental Science, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India, India
4 Cochin Natural History Society, Revathi Bhavan, Edathala P. O., Aluva 683 561, India; Kottayam Nature Society, Sri Nilayam, Near Union Club, Kottayam 686 001, India, India
5 Cochin Natural History Society, Revathi Bhavan, Edathala P. O., Aluva 683 561, India, India
6 Malappuram Birders, Tirur, Malappuram 676 101, India, India
7 Pathanamthitta Birders, Pathanamthitta 689 645, India, India
8 Kottayam Nature Society, Sri Nilayam, Near Union Club, Kottayam 686 001, India, India
9 Malabar Natural History Society, Susheela Mandir, B.G. Road, Nadakkavu P.O., Kozhikode, 673 011, India, India
10 WWF-India, CO Madhavan Road, Ayyankali Nagar, Kunnukuzhy, Thiruvananthapuram 695 035, India, India
11 Kollam Birding Battalion, Kollam 691 010, India, India
12 Kasaragod Birders, Kasaragod 671 121, India, India
13 Malabar Natural History Society, Susheela Mandir, B.G. Road, Nadakkavu P.O., Kozhikode, 673 011, India; Calicut Birders Club, Bellevue Dental Muthappan Complex, Patteri, Kozhikode 673 016, India, India
14 Natural History Society of Palakkad, Palakkad 678 001, India, India
15 Kole Birders Collective, Thrissur 680 555, India, India
16 Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Pookode, Wayanad 673 576, India, India
17 Malabar Awareness and Rescue Centre For Wildlife, Chettipedika, Kannur 670 004, India, India
18 Department of Wildlife Science, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India, India
19 Birders Ezhupunna, Puthiyaparambil (H), Ezhupunna South P. O, Cherthala. Alappuzha 688 537, India, India
20 Young Birders Club, Palakkad 678 001, India, India
21 Hume Centre for Ecology and Wildlife Biology, 4th Cross Rd, Subhash Nagar, Kalpetta, Wayanad 673 121, India, India
22 Nature Conservation Foundation, 1311, ‘Amritha’, 12th Main, Vijayanagar 1st Stage, Mysuru 570 002, India, India
23 Kollam Birding Battalion, Kollam 691 010, India; Department of Wildlife Science, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India, India
24 WWF-India, CO Madhavan Road, Ayyankali Nagar, Kunnukuzhy, Thiruvananthapuram 695 035, India; Department of Wildlife Science, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India, India
25 Natural History Society of Palakkad, Palakkad 678 001, India; Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Anaikatty (Post), Coimbatore 641 108, India, India
26 Sálim Ali Nature Forum, Coimbatore 641 108, India, India
27 Western Ghats Hornbill Foundation, Extension Centre, MES Asmabi College, P. Vemballur, Thrissur 680 691, India, India
28 Sálim Ali Nature Forum, Coimbatore 641 108, India; Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Anaikatty (Post), Coimbatore 641 108, India, India
29 Natural History Society of Palakkad, Palakkad 678 001, India; Department of Wildlife Science, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India, India
30 Cochin Natural History Society, Revathi Bhavan, Edathala P. O., Aluva 683 561, India; Malappuram Birders, Tirur, Malappuram 676 101, India, India
31 Pathanamthitta Birders, Pathanamthitta 689 645, India; Kottayam Nature Society, Sri Nilayam, Near Union Club, Kottayam 686 001, India, India
32 WWF-India, CO Madhavan Road, Ayyankali Nagar, Kunnukuzhy, Thiruvananthapuram 695 035, India; Kole Birders Collective, Thrissur 680 555, India, India
 

Citizen-science driven exercises (e.g. bird surveys) and online platforms (e.g. eBird) provide voluminous data on bird occurrence. However, the semi-structured nature of their data collection makes it difficult to compare bird distribution across space and time. Bird atlases are based on standardized surveys and des­cribe the distribution of bird species over a predefined region and have fewer biases, and thus are better suited for use in research. The recently concluded Kerala Bird Atlas (henceforth KBA) is Asia’s largest bird atlas in terms of geographical extent, sampling effort and species coverage. The entire state of Kerala was systematically surveyed twice a year during 2015–20 and over 0.3 million records of 380 species from 25,000 checklists were aggregated. The dataset was filtered and various metrics were estimated. A total of 915 cells were laid out for systematic surveys, of which 888 were surveyed in either or both the seasons – dry season (January–March) and wet season (July–September); 27 cells could not be surveyed in either of the seasons due to logistical constraints. However, this variation in sampling effort had a minimal effect on survey completeness. The slope of the species accumulation curve suggested near-complete species sampling in over 70% of the cells. After eliminating nocturnal and pelagic species, data from 361 species were analysed. Species count was higher in the dry season than in the wet season. Species richness (count) and evenness were higher in the northern and central districts than in the southern districts. High elevation regions of the southern Western Ghats were the largest contiguous areas lacking sufficient sampling. We found that most of the endemics were concentrated in the Western Ghats, but threatened species were as likely to occur along the coasts as in the Ghats. The KBA dataset is a valuable resource for testing various ecological hypotheses and suggesting science-backed conservation measures. KBA model could be replicated for similar atlases in other states or biogeographic regions of India
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  • Kerala Bird Atlas 2015–20: features, outcomes and implications of a citizen-science project

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Authors

J. Praveen
KeralaBirder, Ambadi, Kunnathurmedu, Palakkad 678 013, India, India
P. O. Nameer
College of Climate Change and Environmental Science, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India; Department of Wildlife Science, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India, India
Ashish Jha
College of Climate Change and Environmental Science, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India, India
Anish Aravind
Cochin Natural History Society, Revathi Bhavan, Edathala P. O., Aluva 683 561, India; Kottayam Nature Society, Sri Nilayam, Near Union Club, Kottayam 686 001, India, India
K. G. Dilip
Cochin Natural History Society, Revathi Bhavan, Edathala P. O., Aluva 683 561, India, India
Dipu Karuthedathu
Malappuram Birders, Tirur, Malappuram 676 101, India, India
George Tom
KeralaBirder, Ambadi, Kunnathurmedu, Palakkad 678 013, India, India
Hari Mavelikara
Pathanamthitta Birders, Pathanamthitta 689 645, India, India
Harikumar Mannar
Kottayam Nature Society, Sri Nilayam, Near Union Club, Kottayam 686 001, India, India
Jafer Palot
Malabar Natural History Society, Susheela Mandir, B.G. Road, Nadakkavu P.O., Kozhikode, 673 011, India, India
Jaichand Johnson
WWF-India, CO Madhavan Road, Ayyankali Nagar, Kunnukuzhy, Thiruvananthapuram 695 035, India, India
R. Jishnu
Kollam Birding Battalion, Kollam 691 010, India, India
K. Maxim Rodrigues
Kasaragod Birders, Kasaragod 671 121, India, India
P. M. Mujeeb
Malabar Natural History Society, Susheela Mandir, B.G. Road, Nadakkavu P.O., Kozhikode, 673 011, India; Calicut Birders Club, Bellevue Dental Muthappan Complex, Patteri, Kozhikode 673 016, India, India
L. Namassivayan
Natural History Society of Palakkad, Palakkad 678 001, India, India
Naveelal Payyeri
Malabar Natural History Society, Susheela Mandir, B.G. Road, Nadakkavu P.O., Kozhikode, 673 011, India; Calicut Birders Club, Bellevue Dental Muthappan Complex, Patteri, Kozhikode 673 016, India, India
P. P. Nesrudheen
Malappuram Birders, Tirur, Malappuram 676 101, India, India
S. Prasanth Narayanan
Kottayam Nature Society, Sri Nilayam, Near Union Club, Kottayam 686 001, India, India
S. S. Prasanth
Malappuram Birders, Tirur, Malappuram 676 101, India, India
M. C. Prashantha Krishna
Kasaragod Birders, Kasaragod 671 121, India, India
E. S. Praveen
Kole Birders Collective, Thrissur 680 555, India, India
Praveen Velayudhan
Natural History Society of Palakkad, Palakkad 678 001, India, India
Premchand Reghuvaran
Cochin Natural History Society, Revathi Bhavan, Edathala P. O., Aluva 683 561, India, India
Raju Kidoor
Kasaragod Birders, Kasaragod 671 121, India, India
R. L. Rathish
Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Pookode, Wayanad 673 576, India, India
R. Roshnath
Malabar Awareness and Rescue Centre For Wildlife, Chettipedika, Kannur 670 004, India, India
C. Sashikumar
Malabar Natural History Society, Susheela Mandir, B.G. Road, Nadakkavu P.O., Kozhikode, 673 011, India, India
Satyan Meppayur
Malabar Natural History Society, Susheela Mandir, B.G. Road, Nadakkavu P.O., Kozhikode, 673 011, India, India
A. K. Sivakumar
WWF-India, CO Madhavan Road, Ayyankali Nagar, Kunnukuzhy, Thiruvananthapuram 695 035, India, India
A. K. Sreedevi
Kottayam Nature Society, Sri Nilayam, Near Union Club, Kottayam 686 001, India, India
B. Sreekumar
Kottayam Nature Society, Sri Nilayam, Near Union Club, Kottayam 686 001, India, India
E. R. Sreekumar
Department of Wildlife Science, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India, India
P. B. Sumesh
Birders Ezhupunna, Puthiyaparambil (H), Ezhupunna South P. O, Cherthala. Alappuzha 688 537, India, India
R. Venugopal
Natural History Society of Palakkad, Palakkad 678 001, India, India
Vinod Venugopal
Young Birders Club, Palakkad 678 001, India, India
C. K. Vishnudas
Hume Centre for Ecology and Wildlife Biology, 4th Cross Rd, Subhash Nagar, Kalpetta, Wayanad 673 121, India, India
Vishnupriyan Kartha
Cochin Natural History Society, Revathi Bhavan, Edathala P. O., Aluva 683 561, India, India
Vivek Puliyeri
Malappuram Birders, Tirur, Malappuram 676 101, India, India
Suhel Quader
Nature Conservation Foundation, 1311, ‘Amritha’, 12th Main, Vijayanagar 1st Stage, Mysuru 570 002, India, India
Abinand Reddy
Nature Conservation Foundation, 1311, ‘Amritha’, 12th Main, Vijayanagar 1st Stage, Mysuru 570 002, India, India
Abdul Raheem Puthiyeri
Malabar Natural History Society, Susheela Mandir, B.G. Road, Nadakkavu P.O., Kozhikode, 673 011, India, India
K. Abdul Riyas
Malabar Natural History Society, Susheela Mandir, B.G. Road, Nadakkavu P.O., Kozhikode, 673 011, India, India
R. S. Abhijith
Kottayam Nature Society, Sri Nilayam, Near Union Club, Kottayam 686 001, India, India
Abhijith Surendran
Kottayam Nature Society, Sri Nilayam, Near Union Club, Kottayam 686 001, India, India
Abhin M. Sunil
Department of Wildlife Science, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India, India
Abhinand Chandran
Malabar Natural History Society, Susheela Mandir, B.G. Road, Nadakkavu P.O., Kozhikode, 673 011, India; Calicut Birders Club, Bellevue Dental Muthappan Complex, Patteri, Kozhikode 673 016, India, India
C. Abhirami
Department of Wildlife Science, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India, India
Abhirami M. Jayakumar
Department of Wildlife Science, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India, India
Abhishek Sebastian Peter
WWF-India, CO Madhavan Road, Ayyankali Nagar, Kunnukuzhy, Thiruvananthapuram 695 035, India, India
N. V. Afreed Muhammed
Nature Conservation Foundation, 1311, ‘Amritha’, 12th Main, Vijayanagar 1st Stage, Mysuru 570 002, India, India
Afthab Faisal Katakath
Department of Wildlife Science, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India, India
P. Ajai
Kottayam Nature Society, Sri Nilayam, Near Union Club, Kottayam 686 001, India, India
Aju K. Raju
Pathanamthitta Birders, Pathanamthitta 689 645, India, India
P. M. Akhil
Natural History Society of Palakkad, Palakkad 678 001, India, India
U. S. Akhil
Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Pookode, Wayanad 673 576, India, India
U. S. Amal
Kollam Birding Battalion, Kollam 691 010, India; Department of Wildlife Science, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India, India
Anamika Menon
WWF-India, CO Madhavan Road, Ayyankali Nagar, Kunnukuzhy, Thiruvananthapuram 695 035, India; Department of Wildlife Science, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India, India
Anas Ibinu Ansari
Kole Birders Collective, Thrissur 680 555, India, India
K. S. Aneesh
WWF-India, CO Madhavan Road, Ayyankali Nagar, Kunnukuzhy, Thiruvananthapuram 695 035, India, India
S. Aneesh
Pathanamthitta Birders, Pathanamthitta 689 645, India, India
C. Anjana Hari
Department of Wildlife Science, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India, India
R. Anjitha
Kasaragod Birders, Kasaragod 671 121, India, India
P. N. Anoop Raj
Natural History Society of Palakkad, Palakkad 678 001, India; Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Anaikatty (Post), Coimbatore 641 108, India, India
Anu John
Kollam Birding Battalion, Kollam 691 010, India, India
Anuradha Varma
Cochin Natural History Society, Revathi Bhavan, Edathala P. O., Aluva 683 561, India, India
S. S. Anushreedha
WWF-India, CO Madhavan Road, Ayyankali Nagar, Kunnukuzhy, Thiruvananthapuram 695 035, India, India
C. K. Aravind
Malabar Natural History Society, Susheela Mandir, B.G. Road, Nadakkavu P.O., Kozhikode, 673 011, India, India
Arjun Ramachandran
Department of Wildlife Science, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India, India
B. Arun
Malappuram Birders, Tirur, Malappuram 676 101, India, India
Arun George
Kole Birders Collective, Thrissur 680 555, India, India
Arun P. Gopi
Birders Ezhupunna, Puthiyaparambil (H), Ezhupunna South P. O, Cherthala. Alappuzha 688 537, India, India
Arun Varghese
Cochin Natural History Society, Revathi Bhavan, Edathala P. O., Aluva 683 561, India, India
Arya Vinod
Natural History Society of Palakkad, Palakkad 678 001, India, India
Ashley Shaji
WWF-India, CO Madhavan Road, Ayyankali Nagar, Kunnukuzhy, Thiruvananthapuram 695 035, India, India
V. M. Ashok Raj
Malappuram Birders, Tirur, Malappuram 676 101, India, India
Ashwin Viswanathan
Nature Conservation Foundation, 1311, ‘Amritha’, 12th Main, Vijayanagar 1st Stage, Mysuru 570 002, India, India
Aslam Mohammed
Malabar Natural History Society, Susheela Mandir, B.G. Road, Nadakkavu P.O., Kozhikode, 673 011, India, India
A. Aswin
Department of Wildlife Science, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India, India
K. S. Aswin
Department of Wildlife Science, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India, India
A. Azhar Ali
Department of Wildlife Science, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India, India
P. B. Balaji
Sálim Ali Nature Forum, Coimbatore 641 108, India, India
M. Bibin Paul
Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Pookode, Wayanad 673 576, India, India
J. Chaithra Shree
Sálim Ali Nature Forum, Coimbatore 641 108, India, India
Chandrasekaran Venkatraman
KeralaBirder, Ambadi, Kunnathurmedu, Palakkad 678 013, India, India
K. Charutha
Kasaragod Birders, Kasaragod 671 121, India, India
Clareena T. Jose
Department of Wildlife Science, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India, India
Clince P. Jose
Malabar Natural History Society, Susheela Mandir, B.G. Road, Nadakkavu P.O., Kozhikode, 673 011, India, India
Dalip Singh
Department of Wildlife Science, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India, India
Devika Sanghamithra
Department of Wildlife Science, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India, India
Digvijay Singh Sikarwar
Cochin Natural History Society, Revathi Bhavan, Edathala P. O., Aluva 683 561, India, India
Divin Murukesh
Malappuram Birders, Tirur, Malappuram 676 101, India, India
V. Divin
KeralaBirder, Ambadi, Kunnathurmedu, Palakkad 678 013, India, India
Fauzia Arief
Cochin Natural History Society, Revathi Bhavan, Edathala P. O., Aluva 683 561, India, India
Jaydev Mandal
Nature Conservation Foundation, 1311, ‘Amritha’, 12th Main, Vijayanagar 1st Stage, Mysuru 570 002, India, India
P. J. Sarlin
WWF-India, CO Madhavan Road, Ayyankali Nagar, Kunnukuzhy, Thiruvananthapuram 695 035, India, India
A. Adil Nafar
Malappuram Birders, Tirur, Malappuram 676 101, India, India
K. H. Amitha Bachan
Western Ghats Hornbill Foundation, Extension Centre, MES Asmabi College, P. Vemballur, Thrissur 680 691, India, India
V. Rejitha
Pathanamthitta Birders, Pathanamthitta 689 645, India, India
R. S. Vishnu Dev
Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Pookode, Wayanad 673 576, India, India
B. Elias Rowther
WWF-India, CO Madhavan Road, Ayyankali Nagar, Kunnukuzhy, Thiruvananthapuram 695 035, India, India
Firosh Raja
Department of Wildlife Science, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India, India
Geetha Iyer
KeralaBirder, Ambadi, Kunnathurmedu, Palakkad 678 013, India, India
Ginu George
Cochin Natural History Society, Revathi Bhavan, Edathala P. O., Aluva 683 561, India, India
T. U. Gireesan
Kottayam Nature Society, Sri Nilayam, Near Union Club, Kottayam 686 001, India, India
P. K. Girish Mohan
Malabar Natural History Society, Susheela Mandir, B.G. Road, Nadakkavu P.O., Kozhikode, 673 011, India, India
Glen Preetesh Dsouza
Kasaragod Birders, Kasaragod 671 121, India, India
G. Govind
WWF-India, CO Madhavan Road, Ayyankali Nagar, Kunnukuzhy, Thiruvananthapuram 695 035, India, India
P. Greeshma
Kole Birders Collective, Thrissur 680 555, India, India
P. M. Hari Prasad
Kottayam Nature Society, Sri Nilayam, Near Union Club, Kottayam 686 001, India, India
T. V. Hariharan
Malabar Natural History Society, Susheela Mandir, B.G. Road, Nadakkavu P.O., Kozhikode, 673 011, India, India
A. Harith
WWF-India, CO Madhavan Road, Ayyankali Nagar, Kunnukuzhy, Thiruvananthapuram 695 035, India, India
C. Harith
Kasaragod Birders, Kasaragod 671 121, India, India
B. Hemanth
WWF-India, CO Madhavan Road, Ayyankali Nagar, Kunnukuzhy, Thiruvananthapuram 695 035, India, India
Ijaas Mohamed
Cochin Natural History Society, Revathi Bhavan, Edathala P. O., Aluva 683 561, India, India
J. Patrick David
Cochin Natural History Society, Revathi Bhavan, Edathala P. O., Aluva 683 561, India, India
P. K. Jain
Nature Conservation Foundation, 1311, ‘Amritha’, 12th Main, Vijayanagar 1st Stage, Mysuru 570 002, India, India
P. Jameela
Kole Birders Collective, Thrissur 680 555, India, India
G. Jayakrishnan
Kottayam Nature Society, Sri Nilayam, Near Union Club, Kottayam 686 001, India, India
K. Jishnu
Malabar Natural History Society, Susheela Mandir, B.G. Road, Nadakkavu P.O., Kozhikode, 673 011, India, India
M. O. Jismi
Department of Wildlife Science, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India, India
Jithin Johnson
Cochin Natural History Society, Revathi Bhavan, Edathala P. O., Aluva 683 561, India, India
C. Joel Soniya
WWF-India, CO Madhavan Road, Ayyankali Nagar, Kunnukuzhy, Thiruvananthapuram 695 035, India, India
Jose Rani Babu
Department of Wildlife Science, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India, India
Joseph Roy
WWF-India, CO Madhavan Road, Ayyankali Nagar, Kunnukuzhy, Thiruvananthapuram 695 035, India, India
Jyothish Nelson
Kottayam Nature Society, Sri Nilayam, Near Union Club, Kottayam 686 001, India, India
M. Jyothi Krishnan
Department of Wildlife Science, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India, India
K. Pranav Bhandary
Kasaragod Birders, Kasaragod 671 121, India, India
K. M. Jamaludheen
Cochin Natural History Society, Revathi Bhavan, Edathala P. O., Aluva 683 561, India, India
Kavingal Ravi
Natural History Society of Palakkad, Palakkad 678 001, India, India
Karthik Thrikkadeeri
Natural History Society of Palakkad, Palakkad 678 001, India, India
Kausthubh K. Nair
Cochin Natural History Society, Revathi Bhavan, Edathala P. O., Aluva 683 561, India, India
B. S. Kiran
Hume Centre for Ecology and Wildlife Biology, 4th Cross Rd, Subhash Nagar, Kalpetta, Wayanad 673 121, India, India
Kiran S. Kumar
WWF-India, CO Madhavan Road, Ayyankali Nagar, Kunnukuzhy, Thiruvananthapuram 695 035, India, India
D. Kishore Raj
WWF-India, CO Madhavan Road, Ayyankali Nagar, Kunnukuzhy, Thiruvananthapuram 695 035, India, India
Kishore Kumar Panaganti
Nature Conservation Foundation, 1311, ‘Amritha’, 12th Main, Vijayanagar 1st Stage, Mysuru 570 002, India, India
M. Krishna Moorthy
Natural History Society of Palakkad, Palakkad 678 001, India, India
R. Krishna Murthy
KeralaBirder, Ambadi, Kunnathurmedu, Palakkad 678 013, India, India
M. R. Krishnanunni
Department of Wildlife Science, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India, India
Latha Prabhakaran
Cochin Natural History Society, Revathi Bhavan, Edathala P. O., Aluva 683 561, India, India
K. K. Lathika
Malappuram Birders, Tirur, Malappuram 676 101, India, India
Libin Abraham
Pathanamthitta Birders, Pathanamthitta 689 645, India, India
G. Hari Narayanan
Kottayam Nature Society, Sri Nilayam, Near Union Club, Kottayam 686 001, India, India
Madhumita Panigrahi
Sálim Ali Nature Forum, Coimbatore 641 108, India; Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Anaikatty (Post), Coimbatore 641 108, India, India
S. Manav
Natural History Society of Palakkad, Palakkad 678 001, India, India
Manoj Karingamadathil
Kole Birders Collective, Thrissur 680 555, India, India
T. R. Manoj
Sálim Ali Nature Forum, Coimbatore 641 108, India, India
Manu Thomas
WWF-India, CO Madhavan Road, Ayyankali Nagar, Kunnukuzhy, Thiruvananthapuram 695 035, India, India
P. P. Manuel
Kole Birders Collective, Thrissur 680 555, India, India
Mebin George Varghese
Kottayam Nature Society, Sri Nilayam, Near Union Club, Kottayam 686 001, India, India
P. Megha Chandran
Kasaragod Birders, Kasaragod 671 121, India, India
M. Mohammad Sulaiman
Natural History Society of Palakkad, Palakkad 678 001, India, India
Mohammed Ashif Madathil
Malappuram Birders, Tirur, Malappuram 676 101, India, India
V. K. Mohammed Hirash
Malabar Natural History Society, Susheela Mandir, B.G. Road, Nadakkavu P.O., Kozhikode, 673 011, India, India
K. Mohammed Ramees
WWF-India, CO Madhavan Road, Ayyankali Nagar, Kunnukuzhy, Thiruvananthapuram 695 035, India, India
M. Sadique Thirunnavaya
Malappuram Birders, Tirur, Malappuram 676 101, India, India
A. P. Muhammed Niyas
WWF-India, CO Madhavan Road, Ayyankali Nagar, Kunnukuzhy, Thiruvananthapuram 695 035, India, India
C. T. Muhasin
Malappuram Birders, Tirur, Malappuram 676 101, India, India
Mukundan Kizhakkemadham
Cochin Natural History Society, Revathi Bhavan, Edathala P. O., Aluva 683 561, India, India
Naseerudheen Abdul Azeez
Natural History Society of Palakkad, Palakkad 678 001, India, India
P. V. Nikhil
WWF-India, CO Madhavan Road, Ayyankali Nagar, Kunnukuzhy, Thiruvananthapuram 695 035, India, India
C. Niranjana
Natural History Society of Palakkad, Palakkad 678 001, India; Department of Wildlife Science, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India, India
Nisha Mundekad
Cochin Natural History Society, Revathi Bhavan, Edathala P. O., Aluva 683 561, India; Malappuram Birders, Tirur, Malappuram 676 101, India, India
Nithin Mohan
WWF-India, CO Madhavan Road, Ayyankali Nagar, Kunnukuzhy, Thiruvananthapuram 695 035, India, India
A. Pavithra
Cochin Natural History Society, Revathi Bhavan, Edathala P. O., Aluva 683 561, India, India
Poornima Viswanathan
Malabar Natural History Society, Susheela Mandir, B.G. Road, Nadakkavu P.O., Kozhikode, 673 011, India, India
P. Pramod
Sálim Ali Nature Forum, Coimbatore 641 108, India; Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Anaikatty (Post), Coimbatore 641 108, India, India
G. Prakash
Sálim Ali Nature Forum, Coimbatore 641 108, India, India
S. Prasath
Sálim Ali Nature Forum, Coimbatore 641 108, India, India
Prasoon Prakash
WWF-India, CO Madhavan Road, Ayyankali Nagar, Kunnukuzhy, Thiruvananthapuram 695 035, India, India
N. Preethi
Natural History Society of Palakkad, Palakkad 678 001, India, India
Rahul Rajeevan
Nature Conservation Foundation, 1311, ‘Amritha’, 12th Main, Vijayanagar 1st Stage, Mysuru 570 002, India, India
M. Rajaguru
Natural History Society of Palakkad, Palakkad 678 001, India, India
V. Rajarajan
KeralaBirder, Ambadi, Kunnathurmedu, Palakkad 678 013, India, India
Raju Sankaran
Kole Birders Collective, Thrissur 680 555, India, India
K. Ratheesh
WWF-India, CO Madhavan Road, Ayyankali Nagar, Kunnukuzhy, Thiruvananthapuram 695 035, India, India
Rayan Pradeep Crasta
Kasaragod Birders, Kasaragod 671 121, India, India
Remya Mohan
Natural History Society of Palakkad, Palakkad 678 001, India, India
Renju
Birders Ezhupunna, Puthiyaparambil (H), Ezhupunna South P. O, Cherthala. Alappuzha 688 537, India, India
Robin C. Koshy
Pathanamthitta Birders, Pathanamthitta 689 645, India, India
Rohan Rai
Kasaragod Birders, Kasaragod 671 121, India, India
Roshin Tom
Nature Conservation Foundation, 1311, ‘Amritha’, 12th Main, Vijayanagar 1st Stage, Mysuru 570 002, India, India
Sachin Chandran
Malabar Natural History Society, Susheela Mandir, B.G. Road, Nadakkavu P.O., Kozhikode, 673 011, India, India
M. V. Sachinkrishna
Department of Wildlife Science, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India, India
M. V. Saeed Anvar Ali
Natural History Society of Palakkad, Palakkad 678 001, India, India
Sajitha Siril
Department of Wildlife Science, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India, India
D. D. Samarth Bharadwaj
Nature Conservation Foundation, 1311, ‘Amritha’, 12th Main, Vijayanagar 1st Stage, Mysuru 570 002, India, India
Samuel George
Nature Conservation Foundation, 1311, ‘Amritha’, 12th Main, Vijayanagar 1st Stage, Mysuru 570 002, India, India
Sancia Morris
WWF-India, CO Madhavan Road, Ayyankali Nagar, Kunnukuzhy, Thiruvananthapuram 695 035, India, India
Sandeep Augustine
Cochin Natural History Society, Revathi Bhavan, Edathala P. O., Aluva 683 561, India, India
Sandeep K. Das
Cochin Natural History Society, Revathi Bhavan, Edathala P. O., Aluva 683 561, India, India
Sandie Morris
WWF-India, CO Madhavan Road, Ayyankali Nagar, Kunnukuzhy, Thiruvananthapuram 695 035, India, India
P. R. Sandra
Kole Birders Collective, Thrissur 680 555, India, India
T. K. Sanuraj
Kasaragod Birders, Kasaragod 671 121, India, India
Saurabh Sawant
KeralaBirder, Ambadi, Kunnathurmedu, Palakkad 678 013, India, India
Savio Morris
WWF-India, CO Madhavan Road, Ayyankali Nagar, Kunnukuzhy, Thiruvananthapuram 695 035, India, India
K. Selvaganesh
Young Birders Club, Palakkad 678 001, India, India
K. Shahil
Nature Conservation Foundation, 1311, ‘Amritha’, 12th Main, Vijayanagar 1st Stage, Mysuru 570 002, India, India
N. N. Shahina
Department of Wildlife Science, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India, India
Shahul Valasy
Malabar Natural History Society, Susheela Mandir, B.G. Road, Nadakkavu P.O., Kozhikode, 673 011, India, India
P. K. Siji
Kole Birders Collective, Thrissur 680 555, India, India
Siju Joseph
Pathanamthitta Birders, Pathanamthitta 689 645, India, India
R. Sivashankar
Kole Birders Collective, Thrissur 680 555, India, India
Siyad A. Karim
Pathanamthitta Birders, Pathanamthitta 689 645, India, India
Sreehari K. Mohan
Department of Wildlife Science, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India, India
Sreehari M. Pillai
Kollam Birding Battalion, Kollam 691 010, India, India
M. Sri Sowmiya
Malabar Natural History Society, Susheela Mandir, B.G. Road, Nadakkavu P.O., Kozhikode, 673 011, India, India
K. T. Srinila
Malappuram Birders, Tirur, Malappuram 676 101, India, India
K. S. Subin
Kole Birders Collective, Thrissur 680 555, India, India
V. G. Sujith
WWF-India, CO Madhavan Road, Ayyankali Nagar, Kunnukuzhy, Thiruvananthapuram 695 035, India, India
Suryamol Sukumaran
WWF-India, CO Madhavan Road, Ayyankali Nagar, Kunnukuzhy, Thiruvananthapuram 695 035, India, India
M. S. Syamili
Department of Wildlife Science, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India, India
Tarun Menon
Natural History Society of Palakkad, Palakkad 678 001, India, India
Tejas Praveen
KeralaBirder, Ambadi, Kunnathurmedu, Palakkad 678 013, India, India
S. A. Thilak
Cochin Natural History Society, Revathi Bhavan, Edathala P. O., Aluva 683 561, India, India
Tony Antony
Pathanamthitta Birders, Pathanamthitta 689 645, India; Kottayam Nature Society, Sri Nilayam, Near Union Club, Kottayam 686 001, India, India
U. R Ullas
WWF-India, CO Madhavan Road, Ayyankali Nagar, Kunnukuzhy, Thiruvananthapuram 695 035, India; Kole Birders Collective, Thrissur 680 555, India, India
Vinod Ooralath Sivaji
Pathanamthitta Birders, Pathanamthitta 689 645, India, India
Vishnu Narayanan
WWF-India, CO Madhavan Road, Ayyankali Nagar, Kunnukuzhy, Thiruvananthapuram 695 035, India, India
M. Vishnu Sreejith
Malabar Natural History Society, Susheela Mandir, B.G. Road, Nadakkavu P.O., Kozhikode, 673 011, India, India
A. Vivek Chandran
Kole Birders Collective, Thrissur 680 555, India, India
Vivek Sudhakaran
Natural History Society of Palakkad, Palakkad 678 001, India, India
R. Vridhi
Kole Birders Collective, Thrissur 680 555, India, India
Wahiba Irshad Humam
Department of Wildlife Science, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India, India
Yadukrishna J. Uchummal
Nature Conservation Foundation, 1311, ‘Amritha’, 12th Main, Vijayanagar 1st Stage, Mysuru 570 002, India, India
M. A. Yathumon
Malabar Natural History Society, Susheela Mandir, B.G. Road, Nadakkavu P.O., Kozhikode, 673 011, India, India

Abstract


Citizen-science driven exercises (e.g. bird surveys) and online platforms (e.g. eBird) provide voluminous data on bird occurrence. However, the semi-structured nature of their data collection makes it difficult to compare bird distribution across space and time. Bird atlases are based on standardized surveys and des­cribe the distribution of bird species over a predefined region and have fewer biases, and thus are better suited for use in research. The recently concluded Kerala Bird Atlas (henceforth KBA) is Asia’s largest bird atlas in terms of geographical extent, sampling effort and species coverage. The entire state of Kerala was systematically surveyed twice a year during 2015–20 and over 0.3 million records of 380 species from 25,000 checklists were aggregated. The dataset was filtered and various metrics were estimated. A total of 915 cells were laid out for systematic surveys, of which 888 were surveyed in either or both the seasons – dry season (January–March) and wet season (July–September); 27 cells could not be surveyed in either of the seasons due to logistical constraints. However, this variation in sampling effort had a minimal effect on survey completeness. The slope of the species accumulation curve suggested near-complete species sampling in over 70% of the cells. After eliminating nocturnal and pelagic species, data from 361 species were analysed. Species count was higher in the dry season than in the wet season. Species richness (count) and evenness were higher in the northern and central districts than in the southern districts. High elevation regions of the southern Western Ghats were the largest contiguous areas lacking sufficient sampling. We found that most of the endemics were concentrated in the Western Ghats, but threatened species were as likely to occur along the coasts as in the Ghats. The KBA dataset is a valuable resource for testing various ecological hypotheses and suggesting science-backed conservation measures. KBA model could be replicated for similar atlases in other states or biogeographic regions of India


DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv122%2Fi3%2F298-309