vaduvoor bird sanctuary

vaduvoor bird sanctuary

Vaduvoor Bird Sanctuary is located in Thiruvarur district of Tamil Nadu. The nearest city, Thanjavur, is located 25 kms from the sanctuary. Created in July 1999, the Sanctuary attracts more than 40 species of water birds like Ibis, Painted stork, Grey pelican, Pintail, Cormorant, Teals, Herons etc. The Sanctuary is a large irrigation tank which receives water from Mettur dam especially from the northeast monsoon from August to December. It remains dry from April to August.

Vaduvur Bird Sanctuary in Thiruvarur district, Tamil Nadu is a sure-fire treat for bird lovers. At the heart of this serene sanctuary is a large lake which lies alongside the stunning Sri Kothandaramaswamy Temple in Vaduvur. The forest department has created mounds along the lake shore and it’s such an amazing spectacle to see thousands of chirping birds roosting on the trees here.  It’s a truly unforgettable sight.

Vaduvur was located 25 Kms away from Thanjavur on the Thanjavur - Mannargudi state highway. The irrigation tank receives water from November to April every year which attracts a numerous foreign birds from Europe and America. The main attraction is the fertile wetlands in the region.

There are also numerous lakes which provide the most required variety of fishes for the birds. The sanctuary is free for Visitors and the government has provided basic facilities for an overnight stay. There are two towers located in the sanctuary for the ease of visitors. More than 38 species of water birds are found here.

Bird migration is a seasonal phenomenon and when the temperature escalates in Europe and in the North America, the bird’s starts seeing for a location that will be suitable for survival. The wetlands in this region are quite suitable for the migratory birds as it provides suitable environment for food, shelter and reproduction.

The farmers of this region also love the arrival of migratory birds as the irrigation water becomes fertile once it was enriched with the excretory of the birds. The state government had appointed officers for prevention of both hunting and poaching. Poaching and hunting is illegal and a punishable offence. The villagers were aware of this and a friendly environment for the shelter of the birds prevails. The small town is a good agricultural land and rice is grown in plenty.

Vettangudi Bird Sanctuary

Vettangudi Bird Sanctuary

Vettangudi Bird Sanctuary is a 0.384 km2 (0.148 sq mi) protected area, declared in June 1977 near Thirupattur in the Sivaganga District that includes the Periya kollukudi patti, Chinna kollukudi patti, and Vettangudi patti irrigation tanks. It was declared as sanctuary in June 1977. This home draws attention in various migratory birds and species.

The small drainage basins in the sanctuary attract over 8,000 winter migratory birds and you can spot over 200 species of birds from Europe and North Asian countries. Vettangudi Bird Sanctuary is 51 km from Madurai on the Madurai – Melur – Tiruppathur Road, in Sivagangai District. The closest railway stations are Karaikudi (32 km) and Madurai (51 km). The best time to visit would be between November and February when the weather is pleasant and you can get to see thousands of migratory birds.

Flora

The vegetation of the tank is dominated by Prosopis; in few locations with babul and on the bund with Tamarind.

Fauna

Vettangudi Bird Sanctuary’s prime attraction is the thousands of migratory birds that make their way here in winter. The sanctuary is the breeding habitat for grey herons, white ibis, darters, night herons spoonbills and Asian open bill storks. You can also spot many local birds here like painted stork, grey heron, darter, common teal, spot bills, little cormorant, little egret, intermediate egret, cattle egret, pintail and flamingos.

This area of small drainage basins attracts more than 8,000 winter migratory birds belonging to 217 species, mostly from European and North Asian countries. It has also attracted indigenous endangered species including painted stork, grey heron, darter, little cormorant, little egret, intermediate egret, cattle egret, common teal, spot bills, pintail, and flamingos.

Oussudu Lake Bird Sanctuary

Oussudu Lake Bird Sanctuary

The century old man-made Ousteri Lake - also referred to as Osudu Lake - is situated about 10 kms from Puducherry town and has been recognized as one of the important wetlands of Asia by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and it is the most important freshwater lake in the Pondicherry region. The structure of the lake is complex - consisting of water, wetland/marsh and mudflats; it acts as the single largest catchment of fresh water in Puducherry.

In 1995 the lake recorded some 20,000 birds and in 1998 it went up to 25,000 birds of 44 species (BNHS, 2004). In addition to residents like Little Cormorant and Common Coot, Cotton Teal, Spot-billed Pelican, Spoonbills, White Ibis; migratory species like the Eurasian Wigeon were recorded in large numbers (up to 4600 individuals!).Various species of ducks, herons, cormorants, hawks, kites, darters, terns, kingfishers, lapwings, flycatchers were abundant.

Ousteri Lake has been designated as one of the important wetlands of Asia by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). Bombay Natural History Society has also nominated it as an Important Bird Area. The lake has also been declared as a bird sanctuary by Government of Pondicherry.

The lake, however, faces numerous threats. Dredging and de-silting by the authorities has caused removal of some useful weeds that the birds would nest on. Trees have been uprooted to make the spot suitable for a children’s park; only a few trees stand on the lakeside giving just a handful of tree-nesting birds the opportunity to breed here. The lake is also facing problems of poaching, fertilizer poisoning, plastic waste pollution and inflow of various other pollutants that also flow in from nearby manufactories. Motor and pedal boats regularly ply in the lake when the water level is sufficiently high and that also happens to be the bird season. A big hospital has been constructed nearby and a restaurant-cum-bar has grown ostentatiously.  Further urbanization, as has been proposed, around the lake will only add to the commotion and noise and additional pollution. Apathy and reluctance on the part of the authorities to run it as a real bird sanctuary are visible.

Although the Government declared it a bird sanctuary in 2008, no positive action was taken to match the declaration. The Government has formed a committee that will take suitable action and will look into rights of different individuals and groups around the lake. The authorities have assured us that all-out action will be taken to maintain the integrity of the lake as a bird sanctuary once all the formalities are over. We hope that the lake will see better days in the coming years.

The state of the Bahour Tank that lies north of Pennaiyar River, about 22 km south of Pondicherry is better as it has not been ‘developed’ for tourism.  As a matter of fact there is no indication anywhere to show that it is an Important Bird Area, either on the way or near the site. The water body was full when we visited it and we are told that more birds will visit it when the water levels go down. By March, however most of the water will be drained for irrigation. The field next to this tank is big and birds often congregate here. If this site is neglected it may get degraded and soon also become unsuitable for birds.

karikili bird sanctuary

karikili bird sanctuary

Karikili Bird Sanctuary is located about 86 KM from Chennai in Madurantakam Taluk of Chengai Anna District, this is one of the most tranquil and beautiful place near Chennai. Spread over 61.21 ha, this comprises of two rain fed irrigation tanks. The water enriched by bird droppings results in increased yield. Beginning with the open billed storks, the birds start arriving in Sept-Oct. Karikili is a haven for ducks and waders. Pin tailed ducks, Garganey teals, common teals, Shoveller, Little Grebe or Dab chick, Herons and Egrets are the other avian visitors. 

Karikili Bird Sanctuary is a place of lush greenery which has huge number of birds. It is a conservative forest of barringtonia and acacia nilotica. Among the many getaways around Chennai is Karikili Bird Sanctuary. This small sanctuary is home to a number of avian beauties, especially migratory ones.

Karikili Bird Sanctuary is one of the famous bird sanctuaries located in Kanchipuram District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is situated close to the small town of Padalam and is almost 86 Kms from Chennai in Madurantakam Taluk of Chengai Anna District. Chengalpattu is the nearest town from Karikili Bird Sanctuary. The sanctuary is one of the most beautiful and tranquil place to visit.

Flora

Dry evergreen scrub and thorn forests characterize the vegetation here and the two rain-fed irrigation tanks of this sanctuary help with plant growth. Interestingly, the bird droppings that fall into these tanks enhance the fertility of the soil on which their water is used.

Fauna

It is considered as place of ducks and waders. This sanctuary is well-known for the cormorants. , Egrets, Grey heron, Open-charged stork, Darter, spoonbill, White lbis, Night herons, little grebes and Grey pelican.  There are many migrated birds can be found here like Garganey blue-greens, Common blue-greens, Shoveller, Pin tailed ducks, Stilts, Sandpipers, etc. here fledgling birds like Coots, Moorhen and Terns can likewise be seen.

Karikili is spread over an area of 61 hectares and is the perfect place to spend a few days in peace. It is barely accessible by public bus, but with Chengalpattu as the nearest town, there are other means of making your way to it. If you are around Chennai between November and February and are looking for a quiet space to which you can retreat for a couple of days – bird watching in Karikili is just the thing you need.

Nellai Birds Sanctuary

 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