Pallikaranai wetland offers hope for resident birds in summer

Bird watchers, who are busy documenting them, are on cloud nine. They say that though migratory birds have vacated the wetland, resident birds are flocking towards it in large numbers. The activists appeal to the government to protect the water spaces for the birds till summer.

KVRK Thirunaranan, founder, The Nature Trust, speaking to DTNext say that there is a wrong perception that birds would usually seek lands filled with water during summer. “However, members from our trust have spotted a sizable number of birds even though the Pallikaranai marsh is not brimming with water, but has enough to attract the winged visitors. Thirty to forty Oriental Pratincoles, Fulvous Whistling Ducks, Common Coots, Little Grebes and Indian Moorhens are camping there presently,” he adds. 

“The number of flamingos is expected to increase in the coming days, when summer is at its peak. Since the ELCOT campus at Pallikaranai has three to four water spaces, birds congregate there. Therefore, officials should ensure such water spaces are not disturbed by human beings,” says the avid bird watcher. 

Similarly, KV Sudhakaran, president, Madras Naturalists’ Society (MNS) says that the Pallikaranai wetland is almost a home for birds. “Whether it is parched or filled with water, we can be sure of birds there. We should consider ourselves fortunate to have these winged visitors in the city. If the wetland is protected and preserved well, it is sure to attract more number of birds,” he adds. 

A senior forest official says that they are continuously monitoring the wetland. “A special team has been formulated to monitor encroachments and we are expecting more birds in the coming days,” he adds.