Failed rains keep winged visitors away

Pulicat, Vedanthangal, Karikilli and Pallikarnai are facing water shortage as of October third week, forest range office G Subbiah told DT Next. “Though bird migration has started, the response is very moderate due to lack of rains. We’re hoping that rain gods will bless the wetlands by the last week of October. The run-off water accumulated in Vedanthangal and Karikilli is not encouraging. The first set of migratory birds, starting with open bill stork, darter and cormorants and egrets have arrived, but we need a good spell of rains for the duck varieties and large waders to come,” the ranger noted.

“In the case of Painted Storks, they are the late arrivals by end-December that add more attraction to the water bodies. Compared to Vedanthangal, the situation is better with Pulicat sanctuary. Last week, there were no rains marked with less migratory birds. This Sunday, the situation was slightly better,” Subbiah said.

Flamingoes are shuttling between the Andhra and TN border in Pulicat and by December, the migration will gain momentum, the official noted.

“The situation with Pallikaranai marshland is encouraging in terms of species diversity but there is a dip in the overall population. As on Wednesday, 122 species have arrived in Pallikaranai with about 11,000 migratory birds,” said KVRK Thirunaranan, founder, The Nature Trust. The comb duck had also arrived but a regular sighting is difficult due to minimal population. In case of Vedanthangal, there is a need for more rainfall,” he said.

“Sparse rain had also left wetlands in Kancheepuram dry and watershed areas like Melmaruvathur, Maduranthagam and Kulavai are also filled with only 40 per cent water,” said N Udayakumar, an avid bird watcher. However, the movement of pelican and egrets are encouraging along the ECR covering Mudaliyar Kuppam and Kovalam backwaters, he said.

According to foresters, Vedanthangal and Karikkili attract birds from as far as Siberia and is home to about 30,000 migratory birds. Last December, some 30,000 birds visited the place and this year the numbers could dwindle if the rainfall continues to be sparse. Water levels in Kuthiri tank and Annamalaichery are important for birds visiting Pulicat sanctuary. Similarly, the water levels and agriculture activity near Maduranthagam reservoir is also crucial for birdlife, sources said.