Nellai Birds Sanctuary
The wildlife rich state Tamil Nadu houses 5 national parks, 14 wildlife sanctuaries and 14 bird sanctuaries. According to reports the area falling outside Kalakkad Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary i.e Tirunelveli forests and the Ousteri Lake was waiting the approval from the government for a long period. Let us learn about this 15th bird and wildlife sanctuary in detail; so that the next time you are in Tamil Nadu you do not miss out on visiting this exotic place.
A tiny village in the far south, Koonthankulam in Nanguneri Taluk of Tirunelveli District is emerging as a new favourite of the migratory birds. It is just 38 Kms. away from Tirunelveli and is in the nearby Nanguneri Taluk. It may soon be catapulted into the list of popular water bird sanctuaries in the country. This village is sparsely populated. Migratory birds start coming by December end and fly away to their northern homes by June or July after they lay eggs, hatch them and the young ones grow old enough to fly with the older ones. About 35 species of birds visit this calm but congenial village for breeding.
The birds called Painted strokes are coming from North India and East European Countries to this place. Similarly the flamingoes which flew in mainly from the Rann of Kutch have hatched and reared their young ones in the village.
The birds coming to their backyards for five generations are protected vehemently by villagers and regarded as harbingers of luck. The excreta of birds –‘guano’ is collected by villagers in summer along with silt to use as fertilizer in their fields. From children to grannies in the village all protect them, their nests and fledgelings. Chicks fallen are taken care of in the rescue centre till they are able to fly on their own. Anybody troubling the nests are punished inn their own methods of shaving the head, or making the procession on donkey
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