Chennai: Despite monsoon failure and bird sanctuaries drying up early this year, the Pallikaranai marsh in Chennai have been a respite for migratory birds visiting northern Tamil Nadu. More than 50 comb ducks and dozens of Caspian terns have arrived, surprising foresters and ornithologists in the Pallikarnai marshland.
Most of the bird sanctuaries in TN are facing a water crisis and bird watchers record decrease in the number of migratory birds visiting the state, but Pallikarnai marsh is an exception, said K. V. R. K. Thirunaranan, founder, The Nature Trust.
The state forest department is periodically recording the migration pattern in Chennai and Kancheepuram and the results related to Pallikaranai had been encouraging, despite the habitat facing biotic pressure due to real estate, he said adding that comb duck has arrived in large numbers after a period of four years.
In fact, most of the pictures that landed for the world wetland day photo competition of the TN forest department had pictures of Pallikaranai covering migratory birds. There are encroachments in these wetlands and if removed the ground water hydrology of entire south Chennai will improve, said N. Balaji, an avid bird tracker of Pallikaranai.
According to the data available to the Conservation Authority of Pallikaranai marshland, five major types of migratory duck varieties, including Northern Shoveller, Pintail, Garganey, Teal have arrived in large numbers. Among waders, little stint and sandpipers have arrived this season in large numbers. Meanwhile, foresters confirmed the dip in the number of birds visiting the historical Vedanthangal bird sanctuary.
