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North Chennai becoming a bird haven

Youngsters have now started sharing the pictures of rare birds on WhatsApp and Facebook
Chennai: Considered to be a polluted residential hub, north Chennai now has surprises for bird watchers. The ongoing Pongal bird census count, which commenced last month, has been enthralling for budding ornithologists in the city. The youngsters have now started sharing the pictures of rare birds on WhatsApp and Facebook.The students, most of them studying in government schools, are also documenting bird migration, behaviour and nesting pattern of terrestrial and wetland birds along the railway tracks of Vyasarpadi Jeeva, Korukkupet, Simpson Estates in Perambur, and Indian Oil Corporation land in Korukkupet.
"Sir, you come and spend three hours with me, I will show 30 to 50 species of birds that are now visiting or are endemic to north Chennai," says confident plus-one student K. Deva of Korukkupet.There is a small wetland near my house next to IOC bus stand and every week at least three dozen species of birds are recorded, including Asian pied starling, green shank, purple moorhen, barbet and cormorant.
Besides the rare ones, common birds like coot, egret and kingfisher are always there, adds Deva."All these areas are not bird sanctuaries or protected wetlands. We know that the birds are there in north Chennai, but confined to small pockets or found in minimal numbers. Volunteers of Nature Trust are now preparing a photographic report with descriptions of the birds, and the data will be shared with the forest department and other like-minded bird watching groups," says K.V.R.K. Thirunaranan, founder, The Nature Trust.
Says city wildlife warden K. Geethanjali, "Of late, there are calls or information that flamingoes are also spotted in north Chennai and whenever there is an alert about rare or unusual sightings, the forest personnel are directed to inspect and share their findings." "Ennore creek, located north of Chennai, is a haven for birds. Visits by flamingoes and pelicans are now common in north Chennai. Earlier, I would travel either to Pulicat or Pallikaranai to take pictures of these rare birds and there are documented pictures of white bellied sea eagle hovering above the Ennore beach," says A. Senthil Kumar, a youngster based in north Chennai who is passionate about wildlife photography.

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