Chennai: Birds flock to Vedanthangal, but villagers divert water

Migratory birds perched upon trees at Vedanthangal bird sanctuary

CHENNAI: Hundreds of winged visitors are busy collecting twigs for their nests in Vedanthangal bird sanctuary, but villagers are creating issues by placing sandbags in the channel that allows flowing of water from Valayaputhur lake to the sanctuary.

A senior wildlife official said that Vedanthangal tank is 16 ft deep and it currently has water to a depth of 14.5 ft.

Among the species, grey pelicans, open billed storks and spoon billed storks have come in good numbers to the sanctuary. Annually 26 species of birds come, nest and roost here. So far, 13 species, including spot-billed ducks have colonized the sanctuary.

An avid bird watcher, K V R K Thirunaranan, said after five years, a good number of grey pelicans have built their nests at the trees that are facing the bund. Normally, open-billed storks and a few other species build their nests at the forefront and pelicans build well inside the sanctuary. Similarly, spoon billed storks also have come in good numbers.

Setting up nests at the front by grey pelicans is an indication that more birds will come. "This is what we observed a few years ago," Thirunaranan said. According to Thirunaranan, Karikili used to receive a good number of migratory ducks but so far there has been no such sign.