The Hindu : Front Page : Close vigil being maintained on migratory birds at four sanctuaries

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 26, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

Close vigil being maintained on migratory birds at four sanctuaries

G. Srinivasan

"Season over; most of the birds have left Point Calimere"

Thanjavur: A close vigil is being maintained on migratory birds that visit the four bird sanctuaries in composite Thanjavur and Perambalur districts as a precautionary measure, in the wake of reports of avian flu in Maharashtra, said A.D. Baruah, Wildlife Warden, Nagapattinam, on Friday.

The sanctuaries are Point Calimere near Vedaranyam in Nagapattinam district, Vaduvur and Udhayamarthandapuram in Tiruvarur district and Karavetti in Perambalur district.

"Point Calimere records the largest congregation of flamingos, next only to Rann of Kutch in Gujarat. Since the season has come to an end, most of the birds have left," Mr. Baruah said.

Susceptible species

Of the migratory birds, avian flu had struck only two species — brown-headed gull and bar-headed goose — in other countries. Only a very few brown-headed gulls were found at Point Calimere while 265 bar-headed geese were found at Karavetti. Movement of bar-headed geese was being closely monitored for any symptoms of the disease, he said.

Ever since bird flu was noticed in India, all precautionary measures had been taken in the four bird sanctuaries. "We have bought protective gear such as face masks, hand gloves and polythene bags, and they are kept ready at the sanctuaries."

Point Calimere records the visit of about 5,000 flamingos every year. Other birds that visit the sanctuary are painted storks, spoonbills, variety of gulls, pintail ducks etc. Karavetti receives a large number of bar-headed goose, pelicans, ibis, spoonbills and a variety of water birds.

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