ABSTRACT
Wetlands are peculiar ecosystems between terrestrial and aquatic environments. The wetland avifauna is safeguarded by the Wildlife Act, 1972 and the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna. The Pokkali wetlands are part of the Central Asian Flyway and Vembanad Ramsar site. The paddy cultivation is practised during the low saline phase followed by shrimp cultivation during the high saline phase. It is a sustainable, organic agricultural practice carried out in the water-logged coastal regions of Ernakulam, Alappuzha and Thrissur Districts of Kerala, India. Kerala has 16 threatened species of wetland birds. Wetland birds are limiting factors of restoration success and regional biodiversity. A total of 14 avifaunal species belonging to the Threatened and Near Threatened category were recorded, of which three are threatened and 11 are Near Threatened. On comparing, the total avifaunal population, highest number of individuals was recorded in 2016-2017 and the lowest was in 2018-2019.
