Pulicat Lake Birds Sanctuary

Pulicat Lake Birds Sanctuary

Location: Chengalpattu District

Area:481 sq.KM

Uniqueness:It is the 2nd largest brackish water lagoon in India after Chilka lake in Orissa

The sanctuary lies exactly within 11°30’N to 11°42’N and 76°30’E to 76°45’E. The average rainfall of this region ranges between 800 and 2000mm. The temperature of this sanctuary lies between 14°C and 33°C. The altitude of this sanctuary ranges between 100’ MSL and 1200’ MSL. There is greatest threat to this region as there is a chance for this lake to disappear in next 100 years because of silt formation. Both private Non government organization and Indian government are doing their best to halt the destruction of this lake.

This bird sanctuary attracts many bird waters from other parts of India, especially at weekends. The lake is about 60 km and width varying from 0.2 km to 17.5 km.

The lagoon is an important habitat for 160 species of fish, 25 species of polychaetes worms, 12 species of prawn, 19 species of mollusk, 100 species of birds both terrestrial and aquatic birds and small mammals and reptiles. Migratory birds mainly from Central Asia and Eastern Europe, visits this sanctuary. The sanctuary mainly attracts Greater and Lesser Flamingoes, Grey Pelican, Painted Stork, Grey Heron, Ducks, Marbled teal, Terns, Egrets, Kites and Partridges, Quails, Sea Gulls and a number of Waders such as curlews, stilts, plovers, sand pipers, lapwings and redshank. . During the winter season, the sanctuary attracts up to 15,000 flamingoes.

Some of the commonest wetland birds include Shoveler, Garganey, Gadwall, Marsh Sandpiper and Black-tailed Godvit. Some of the resident birds listed are Grey Pelican and Open-billed Stork. The lake is also home to crabs, clams, mussels, oysters, snails, fish worms, insects, spiders, sponges, anemone, prawns, plankton and so on

Pulicat Lake is the second largest brackish – water lake or lagoon in India. It straddles the border of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu states on the Coramandel Coast in South India. The lake encompasses the Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary. The barrier island of Sriharikota separates the lake from the Bay of Bengal. The island is home to the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.

Pulicat Lake, an ecologically fragile salt-water lagoon, about 60 kms north of Chennai, is the second largest lagoon in India. It is situated on the route taken by migrating birds, tempting them to stop for a break. The lake is separated from the Bay of Bengal by a strip of land, in which the town of Pulicat is located. 

Point Calimere Birds Sanctuary

 Point Calimere Birds Sanctuary

Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary (PCWBS) is a 21.47-square-kilometre (8.29 sq mi) protected area in Tamil Nadu, South India along the Palk Strait where it meets the Bay of Bengal at Point Calimere (Tamil: கோடியக்கரை Kodiakkarai) at the southeastern tip of Nagapattinam District. The sanctuary was created in 1967 for conservation of the near threatened blackbuck antelope, an endemic mammal species of India. It is famous for large congregations of waterbirds, especially greater flamingos.[1] International name: Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary, IBA Code: IN275, Criteria: A1, The 7-square-kilometre (2.7 sq mi) core area of this sanctuary has been proposed as a National Park

Fauna

This sanctuary is an area of high biodiversity, with many unique species of animals and birds. See photos

Land animals

PCWBS is inhabited by fourteen mammal species, eighteen reptile species and nine amphibian species.

Blackbuck antelope, PCWBS's flagship species

The flagship species of the sanctuary is the near threatened blackbuck antelope, one of the four antelope species in India (Chinkara, Chausingha and Nilgai being the other three) and the most numerous large animal in the sanctuary. The population estimate of the blackbuck at Point Calimere more than doubled in thirty years, from 750–800 in 1967 to 1,908 in 1998/99. This isolated population of blackbuck probably survived unmolested throughout the centuries due to the locals' now declining belief that eating its meat causes leprosy. The predators of the blackbuck at Point Calimere are jackals, and sometimes village dogs. Competition for food is from domestic and feral cattle.

Other notable animals include: spotted deer, jackal, bonnet monkey, wild boar, monitor lizard, short-nosed fruit bat, small Indian civet, star tortoise, Indian grey mongoose, black-naped hare, jungle cat and feral pony.

Marine animals

Bottlenose dolphin is frequently seen along the shore of the sanctuary in morning and evening hours during the winter. The shoreline beaches of the sanctuary are a regular nesting site of the endangered olive ridley turtle. In 2002 a pair of Bryde's whale were found washed ashore near the sanctuary. One 10 ton 35-foot whale was successfully towed back to sea.

Flight of painted stork at PCWBS

List of birds at PCWBS

This was the first successful rescue of a beached whale in Asia.

Waterbirds

This site has recorded the second largest congregation of migratory waterbirds in India, with a peak population in excess of 100,000, representing 103 species. Bombay Natural History Society researchers have captured, studied, ringed and released over 200,000 birds during the course of several ornithological studies here in the past several years.

In October these waterbirds arrive from Rann of Kutch, Eastern Siberia, Northern Russia, Central Asia and parts of Europe for their feeding season and start returning to those breeding places in January. These waterbirds include threatened species such as spot-billed pelican, Nordmann's greenshank, spoonbill sandpiper and black-necked stork. Near threatened species include black-headed ibis, Asian dowitcher, lesser flamingo, spoonbill, darter and painted stork.

Landbirds

Brahminy kites and slender billed gulls at PCWBS

Over 15 square kilometres (5.8 sq mi) of the best tropical dry evergreen forest in India

are in the sanctuary. They harbour a large variety of resident and migratory landbirds. The most common of the 35 resident species are white-browed bulbul, brahminy kite, small green-billed malkoha, crow pheasant, rose-ringed parakeet, grey partridge, blue-tailed bee-eater and common iora.

Spotted and collared doves are common in the mangroves.

Flora

Mangrove forest at Muthupet

This site is a mix of salt swamps, mangroves, backwaters, mudflats, grasslands and tropical dry evergreen forests. 364 of flowering plant species have been identified in the sanctuary of which 50% are herbs and the others are climbers, shrubs and trees. 

About 198 of these have medicinal properties. Manilkara hexandra, locally called Palai is the dominant dry evergreen species and an important food source for fruit eating birds. Middle canopy is dominated by the invasive Prosopis juliflora and the most abundant undergrowth is Memecylon umbellatum.

Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuay

            Megamalai  Wildlife Sanctuay

Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the famous tourist attractions of this region which is spread in an area of 600 square Kms. This Sanctuary is very famous for its different type of mammals, butterflies, birds and reptiles species. The garden of coffee and tea attracts a large number of tourists in all over India and is a perfect destination to spend holidays.

Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON) has recommended the expansion of Meghamalai Wildlife Sanctuary in Theni district to boost conservation in the southern Western Ghats.

After conducting studies on distribution, abundance and conservation of primates and mammals in the Meghamalai landscape for sixty years, the SACON scientists have strongly recommended the creation of a new wildlife sanctuary or expansion of the existing 269.11 sq.km sanctuary as many wildlife habitats are outside the protected area.

According to the findings, large tracts of natural forest was given on lease to different companies for a fixed period long back in upper Manalar, Vellimalai, Ammagajam. These contiguous forests were converted as commercial plantations such as tea, coffee and cardamom but are interspersed with rainforests harbouring high diversity of animals, including large mammals.

As this is an area where large portion of high elevation forests (above 1,400m) still persist supporting high richness of endemic and threatened vertebrates, the SACON scientists have recommended that the lease period of these estates should not be further extended and should be gradually acquired and restored.

For instance, the mean group size of the lion-tailed macaque (LTM) is 33.25, which is much higher than many other forests including Silent Valley and Anamalai hills.

“Although the number of groups is small (eight), the minimum population size of 266 individuals is very promising,” says Honnavalli N. Kumara, a SACON scientist involved in the studies.

In all, the SACON scientists recorded 63 species of mammals belonging to 24 families of which 24 were globally threatened with one critically endangered.

Direct and indirect evidence of tigers were mostly restricted to western plateau of the landscape, the results show. Noting that the area also experiences severe interruption of locals for cattle grazing which increases the chance of spreading diseases from cattle to wild ungulates, the SACON scientists caution that this could become a serious issue for prey base of tigers in the adjoining Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR).

Increasing protection in the landscape would also reduce the hunters entering PTR through these forests that would facilitate tigers to occupy the landscapes of Meghamalai, Highwavys and Varusanadu ranges. The “highly exploited” Varusanadu valley and hills is a potential patch for ‘Conservation Reserve’ program, Mr. Kumara says.

There are about 1,802 encroachments in the range covering 2,060 hectares according to forest working plan 2004-2014. The lands were encroached to create monoculture plantations (silk cotton) three to four decades ago.

As resettling the encroachers will be a troublesome work and that will lead to conflict between forest department and local residents, SACON scientists have suggested it be made a Conservation Reserve so that people inside the valley will not be evicted and at the same time biodiversity of the landscape could be maintained.

There is a long-pending proposal with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department to establish the Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary on 600 km2 of forest in the division. Priority tasks in the sanctuary should be the control of poaching and the use of pesticides, the elimination of ganja (Cannabis sativa) and the cultivation and scientific management of watersheds. The Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary can be an excellent buffer to the Periyar Tiger Reserve and Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary and can immensely strengthen conservation in the southern Western Ghats, the range of hills south of the Palakkad Gap.[2]

Wildlife includes: Oriental honey buzzard, great pied hornbill, Indian brown mongoose, Jerdon's palm civet, white-bellied short-wing, black-naped monarch, pied thrush, gaur, tiger, leopard, Asian elephant, mouse deer, Ghatixalus asterops, Raorchestes beddomii, Raorchestes ponmudi, Nyctibatrachus sp., Ramanella triangularis, Ramanella montana, Calotes grandisquamis, Dravidogecko anamallensis, Salea anamallayana, Kaestlea travancorica, Kaestlea laterimaculata, Uropeltis madurensis, Uropeltis liura, Calliophis nigrescens, large-scaled pit viper and the enigmatic Hutton's pit viper.

Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary

Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary

 Located in the Thirunelvelli district of Tamil Nadu, the Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary covers an extensive area of 895 sq km.

 

Wild life lovers will thoroughly enjoy a visit to this wildlife park. The sight of so many members of the animal kingdom is sure to amaze everyone. Some of the wild creatures that can be sighted in the Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary are Tiger, Mouse deer, Leopard, Rusty spotted cat, Brown palm civet, Leopard, Sambhar, Spotted deer, Malabar giant squirrel, Nilgiri Langur, Bonnet Macaque, Sloth Bear, Brown mongoose, Nilgiri Martin, Indian pangolin, King Cobra, Python, Monitor Lizard, Flying Lizard, Pit viper and others.
   

It is certainly very thrilling to explore the dark mysterious forests and see all these beasts in their natural habitat. Different parts of the Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu receive different quantities of rainfall.

 

 As a result the vegetative cover of these forests is also widely different. The lower lands receive an annual rainfall amounting to less than 1000 mm whereas the upper reaches receives more than 4000 mm of rainfall. Accordingly the forests vary from dry deciduous to tropical wet evergreen. If you want to behold the beauty of the winged creatures and listen to their sweet humming voice, the Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary is also the right place for you to go to. The avifaunal population of the Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary comprises of Ceylon mouth frog, Grey headed bulbul, Great Pied hornbill, Great Indian Hornbill, Malabar Grey hornbill, Oriental bay owl and Broad tailed Grass warbler.

For those who love adventure, the very thought of residing in the Forest Rest House at Mundanthurai is exciting enough. Coupled with it is the thrill of seeing the wild beasts in such natural surroundings. Trekking opportunities are also there in the Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu. However prior permission of the Wildlife Department is required if you are interested in trekking.

The Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary is easily accessible and arranging a trip is no problem at all. The nearest railway station is Ambasamudram located at a distance of about 6 km. Buses are frequently available from here. The months of October to January are ideally suited for a visit to the Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary.

 

Mudanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary is a treasure trove for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers. Extremely rich in biodiversity, one can spot Mundanthurai wildlife in all its surrounding beauty. The dense, dark forest cover is thrilling in its mystery with the promise of a surprise at every corner. It is the 17^th declared  

Melaselvanoor-Keelaselvanoor Birds Sanctuary

Melaselvanoor-Keelaselvanoor Birds Sanctuary

Melaselvanoor Keelaselvanoor Bird Sanctuary located near Sayalkudi in Ramanathapuram district in Tamil Nadu is home to various migratory birds. In the year 1998 it was declared as a sanctuary. It is spread over an area of 593.08 ha. This is the biggest bird sanctuary in Tamil Nadu. The sanctuary is a part of Melaselvanoor and Keelaselvanoor villages of Kadaladi taluk of Ramanathapuram district. 

Melaselvanoor, Keelaselvanoor Bird Sanctuary is located in Melaselvanoor, Kelaselvanor village tanks at 9o13’ N and 78 o 32’30 E graticule. It forms part of Melaselvanoor and Keelaselvanoor villages of Kadaladi taluk of Ramanathapuram district.

Majority of its area is now invaded and covered with prospis thickets. The Acacia nilotica plantation situated in the area is the nesting site for Migratory birds.

Pelicans, Painted Storks, Open billed Storks, White ibis, Spoon bills and Egrets regularly nest in the sanctuary. This sanctuary is considered to be the best heronry site in Ramanathapuram district. The vegetation of the tank is dominated by Prosopis in few locations with babul and on the boundaries with tamarind trees.

Karaivetti Birds Sanctuary

Karaivetti Birds Sanctuary

The Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary, is a 4.537 km2 (1.752 sq mi) protected area located at Karaivetti village in Ariyalur District of Tamil Nadu, South India and established on April 5, 1999. It is one of the largest freshwater lakes in southern Tamil Nadu. At least 188 species of birds have been recorded in the sanctuary. International name is Karaivetti Wildlife Sanctuary.

Karaivetti is a lake fed by the River Kaveri and by rainwater, about 50 km northeast of Tiruchchirappalli town. This freshwater lake is fed by Pullambadi, Kattalal canal. It is the biggest water body in the district and attracts hundreds of thousands of birds every year. Considering its importance as a bird habitat, the Government of Tamil Nadu declared it as a bird sanctuary in 1999. When full, the lake can hold water to an average depth of 3 m.

From April to August, the water level is low. In the northern dry part of the lake, cotton, castor, maize, gram and coriander are cultivated annually, while in the wetter southern part, paddy and sugarcane are cultivated. The natural and planted vegetation consist of Acacia nilotica, Prosopis chilensis, Azadirachta indica & Tamarindus indica. The Acacia nilotica plantation is the major nesting site for birds.

In the wetland, Typha angustata and Fimbristylis sp. are present. Ipomea aquatica grows as a weed in many parts of the reservoir. Floating and partly submerged plants include Elodea, Hydrilla, Salvinia and Spirodella sp.

It is located about 35 kms to the north of Thanjavur in Ariyalur Taluk. The sanctuary is home to a variety of migratory birds that visit the sanctuary during the November. Over 2.5 lakhs birds arrive in this sanctuary.

Of the 188 species of birds recorded in the sanctuary, 82 are water birds. The sanctuary is one of the most important fresh water feeding grounds for migratory water birds. The water birds arrive at the tank from September after water is released from the Mettur dam.

According to Forest Department sources, during the course of the first half of the migratory period, a large number of teals and ducks are drawn to the spot as the water level is deeper. As water starts receding, larger birds such as painted storks and open bills start thronging

Geography

The sanctuary is a large irrigation tank located in the northern alluvial plains of the Kaveri River. It is fed during the northeast monsoons by the Pullambadi canal, an aqueduct from the Kaveri via the Venganur reservoir and dam. It is one of three interconnected reservoirs. It is one of the largest freshwater lakes in southern Tamil Nadu. An important aspect of this sanctuary is the presence of water till the month of May as most nearby water bodies dry up by the month of March. It remains dry from June till August. Rainfall ranges from 800 mm (31 in) -2,000 mm (79 in). It is often referred to together with another nearby tank and called Vettakudi-Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary.

Location

The sanctuary has an area of 321 Sq. Km with 108 Sq. Km of National Park area.

It lies within 11o 30’ N to 11o 42’ N and 76o 30’ E to 76o 45’ E.

Rainfall ranges from 800 - 2000mm. Temperature varies from 14o C to 33o C.

Altitude ranges from 100’ MSL to 1200’ MSL.

Flora

Aquatic vegetation includes: ganthian sp., sedge sp., bullrush & Hydrilla. Shoreline trees include wattle, neem, Indian beech sp., and casuarina sp. These trees provide habitats necessary for breeding waterbirds. The Social Forestry Department has planted Cassia trees along the northern and western shores of the reservoir. 

Fauna

Important birds here are long migrants including the high flying bar-headed goose, white stork, woolly-necked stork, rosy pelican, spoonbill, open bill stork, and grey heron, night heron, Pond heron, purple heron, egrets and glossy ibis.

The diving birds little cormorant, kingfisher, Indian cormorant and sixteen species of ducks, including spot-billed duck, common pochard, tufted pochard and northern shoveler, plus Coots and Twenty three species of waders, including whiskered tern, gull-  Billed tern, and little tern, sandpipers, little ringed plover and Kentish plover, have been recorded in the sanctuary.

Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary

Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary

Kodaikanal had more number of Flora&Funa in the past like the Black Panther the Damp - Loving Frogs etc. The high elevations of the Palanis were typified by three natural Ecosystems steep rock escarpments, grasslands and sholas. The rock bluffs and precipices, sometimes overlooking sheer drops oftwo to three thousand meters, were the home of the Nilgiri Thar an endangered "Goat - Sheep" whose nearest relative is the Himalayan Thar which is another end of India. The human beigns plundered this wealth and we have only small groups of Thar. The Indian Rock Python live in the lower elevations. Five to six metre ones are seen now and they prey on rats, chickens etc which they can catch from villages near.

One sensation of Kodaikanal is the Kurinji Plants which bear flowers called Kurinji flowers (The botanical name is Strobilanthus) found on the Palani hills. They flower only once in 12 Years. In the valleys there are dense patches of broad - leaved, evergreen rain forests called Sholas. Unlike rain forests in the plains, the trees here do not reach majestic heights because of the high altitued and constant, heavy wind. These moss and lichen laden forests are prime watershed. They absorb water during the monsoon and release it judiciously all year round.

The foresters of the past failed to understand that the grasslands in the high reaches of the hills were biological treasure-houses. Not only are they ecologically ancient habitats with rich species diversity, but they provide important corridors for wildlife such as Bison, Elephant and Thar. As the grasslands go, the wild animals become isolated and are unable to get the necessities of life. This is the fate of most of the large animals in the country. But to most of the people these were vast wastelands which can be put to use. Thus the invasion of exotic commercial trees in Kodaikanal and it has changed entirely the ecological face of the Palanis The early pioneers like Major Partridge, Sir Levinge and others introduced and planted the first Eucalyptus, Wattle and Pine. After the World war II there was a demand for quick- growing trees for paper pulp. At the same time, South Africa refused to export tannin and wattle (a raw material for tannin), used for the leather industry, to India. So wattle was planted all over thousands of acres and this dominates Kodai's landscape today.

Medicianal Flora

The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University is doing good work in Kodaikanal for the development of Flora especially Medicinal Flora. Cultivation of medicianla plants like Digitalis, Pyrethrum, Bellandona, Dioscrea and Mentha can revolutionise the economy of the rural people who are agriculturists. There is a research centre by CIMPO near Berijam for this. Work during the past ten years at HRs, Kodaikanal, has enabled the Tamil Nadu Agriculture University to identify certain varieties of Digitalis, Pyrethrum, Bellandona, Dioscrea, Mentha etc., which gave higher yields. Technical know - how is also avilable, and when the marketing of the concerned produce is assured (i.e., the area of medicinal plants are increasing rapidly due to the activities of various drug manufacturers.

Animals in Kodaikanal

Black PantherEven though some ones like the panther, giant malabar squirrels, civet cats are getting extinct Kodai still has a store of Fauna which is too good. We can see the flying squirrels which can spread out like square frying pans and gliding from one tree to another. They seem to be active on bright moonlit nights, using their high pitched, calls to communicate with their kind.

There are others, Porcupines, Wild Boar, Bison and other creatures. The Berijam lake is an area where you can find the forests with many of these animals. Near the Berijam lake there are chances of hearing the eerie, ascending call of the Nilgiri langur, a black monkey endemic to the Western Ghats. Heavily hunted for their supposedly medicianl meat, these primates have become thoroughly man-shy and will not allow a close approach. Their calls often elicit an immediate response from the giant Malabar squirrel's loud chuckle. Mannavannur is also a place where to see these fauna.

Deers like the barking deer, Sambar, Mouse deer are present here and there in the bushes and forests. The once in a while visitor is the Great Elephant, which comes from the plains. Several herds seem to stay up here year round now, probably victims of dire habitat alteration.

In the early 1900s there were panthers roaming near the lake. They were bold enough to catch cattle right out of the sheds. There are sightings of tigers in the Palanis, but people often confuse with panther and hyenas. In fact in Tamil name for hyena is donkey- tiger. Other rare remnants of these hills are the sloth bear and the brilliantly spotted leopard cat. Scattered groups of Nilgiri Thar still roam the high slopes and steep escarpments; but the increasing conversion of grassland to plantations may well drive them away from the Palanis altogether.

BIRDS IN AND AROUND KODAIKANAL

Bul BulThis place, Kodaikanal is a sure visit for a bird-lover or bird watcher. You will have to go to the Sholas since the birds are not so fond of pine, eucalyptus and wattle. Bombay Shola, right in the heart of town, can yield results and sometimes there is action even on the towering trees.

Among the common birds of gardens and wooded areas is the jolly little Red-Whiskered BulBul has a less prominent and red cheeks. Its cousin the Red-Vented BulBul has a less prominent crest. Black BulBuls have a red beak which makes identifying them easy. Its calles are not so musical. There is another garden resident is the Slaty-Headed Sacimitrar Babbler. It is more heard than seen. Another common one is the ,Palani Laughing Thrush has a melodious whistling call up and down the scale, which has earned it the name of Whistling Schoolboy. Yet another ground lover is the blackbird, the male is glossy black with yellow bill, the female brown with a white-spotted breast. Pied bush chats, Jungle Mynahs, Spotted Doves and Crow Peasants live and nest in Kodaikanal's gardens. The Common Mynah is absent.

Around and In the sholas, there are colourful birds. There are Flycatchers - Grey - Headed, black and orange and the verditer. There are scarlet minivet and loud kutroo are really cool to see. Fowls are present in the sholas and on the way to Berijam. The Red Spur Fowl is also found. The lake is inhabited with Moorhens, Common Kingfisher, Brahminy Kite, Pond Heron, Large Pied Wagtail, Nilgiri Pipit, Painted snipe and a few others do inhabit the lake.

You can spot the Cresent Serpant Eagle, a dark brown raptor with a black and white crest and yellow unfeathered legs. The pariah kite is altogether is more clumsy bird, its forked tail makes it easy to distinguish it form other birds of prey. They are occaionally seen around the bazaar, picking up unprotected food. Pale rumped swallows are common, and their mud nests are sometimes found on the walls of houses. There is this edible-nest swiftlet, which makes glutionous nests form saliva. These are collected in large scale in the Eats, where they are eaten as soup.

The visiting birds in the winter are the common Rosefinch, the Blue Chat and several leaf warblers which come in hordes and are impossible to identify without help of a guide. One of the easily identifyalbe ones is Blyth's Reed Warbler, which goes around alone.