Tirupati: The Pulicat and Nelapattu bird sanctuaries in SPSR Nellore district have hosted over 60 species of migratory birds in Year 2020-21. About 1,84,092 birds have arrived from over three continents and nested here during different seasons in the past one year.
According to the wildlife management officials at Sullurpeta, a variety of aquatic and terrestrial birds such as painted storks, large and little egrets, grey pelicans, grey herons and water birds such as northern pintails, black-winged stilts, northern shovelers, common teal, seagulls, terns, sandpipers, and the common coots have reached here in good numbers this year.
Various migratory birds including flamingos visit this sanctuary every year for breeding. The birds fly to Pulicat from across the country as well as regions as far as Siberia and leave with their young ones after the breeding season. To watch birds, hundreds of bird enthusiasts and visitors throng the Pulicat Lake’s surroundings.
The authorities also organise a flamingo festival and it became a tradition of this region. The fest will be organised annually, usually in January, to encourage tourism in Pulicat and Nelapattu. The highlight of the fest is the sighting of colourful migratory birds from Siberia that visit the region for nesting and breeding.
Around 10,000 to 12,000 migratory birds, belonging to 80 different species, arrive at Pulicat for breeding in winter. Given the change in the climate conditions in this region, officials are expecting an increase in the number of bird arrivals by the first week of January, next year.
