Chennai: The agricultural fields near Koonthankulam bird sanctuary in Tirunelveli are now filled with bar headed goose, one of the world’s highest-flying birds. More than 3,000 geese and some of them ringed by wildlife scientists, have returned to Koonthankulam. With the Tirunelveli district enjoying good rainfall unlike northern Tamil Nadu districts, the focus of bird watchers has now shifted to Tiruneveli and Nagapattinam districts.
According to forest department bird tracker Bal Pandi, the migration of birds has started and will reach peak by mid-January as painted storks, (usually the last migrant bird specie to arrive) will land. A majority of the water bodies in the sanctuary are filled with birds due to good rains this year. Several nests are full of chicks and species like Comb duck and spot billed ducks have started breeding. As usual pelicans, egrets and ibis have arrived in thousands. And more a than dozen bar headed geese, which were ringed by wildlife scientists for study, have also arrived this season, he said.
The bar headed goose (Anser indicus), which breeds in Central Asia in colonies, has arrived in large numbers and flocks are expected to stay in Koonthankulam for some more weeks, he added.“Though Kancheepuram district faces deficit rainfall this season, we are expecting more rains. The migration season has started but is yet to gain momentum as the water level in Vedanthangal and Karikilli bird sanctuaries are not encouraging,” city wildlife warden Geethanjali said.
However, the lakes have been desilted and banks have been strengthened to hold in case of deluge and the planted saplings have started growing and will encourage nesting, she explained.“This year, with the district receiving heavy rainfall, we are hoping to see the painted stork chicks in Koonthankulam after a period of three years,” said Mr K.V.R.K. Thirunaranan, founder, The Nature Trust.
