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.