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PHOTO: BY AUTHOR

ARE YOU BIRD-WATCHING? Birds pose for the cameras

It was a pleasant surprise to see the people of Vettangudi in Sivagangai district so cheerful and happy. The perfect onset of the North-East Monsoon has attracted more tourists to their sleepy little village this winter. They have been flocking to see a large congregation of birds at the Vettangudi bird sanctuary.

When I reached this village off the National Highway, there was a mild drizzle. A village road dotted with a profusion of trees and emanating the heady smell of wet earth forked out after about a kilometre. It culminated at a beautiful wide channel with a tank at one end. A few hens ran around chasing each other while a few cows grazed by the roadside. A lone photographer was taking pictures. The bird sanctuary looked well maintained complete with a watch tower, a children’s play park, a covered resting area for visitors and a row of cement benches lining the wall of the tank.

I sat watching a big group of Asian Open Bill Storks, who appeared sunbathing. The Vettangudi bird sanctuary is a natural habitat of winter migratory and residential birds. Situated over 39.9 hectares and covering the three tanks of Vettangudi, Periyakollukudi and Chinnakollukudi villages in the area of operation, it attracts more than 8,000 migratory birds belonging to 217 species, mostly from Europe and North Asia.

It indeed is a beautiful spot to spend time watching birds come and go. A little down the channel, by its bund, a group of white ibis seem to be having a meeting. Pairs of night herons in a playful mood fly away, then swoop down to scoop out food from the mud. Little dabchicks wade by and darters with their wings held half-open continuously display their diving skills. A pair of little cormorants fly in and out of water and finally take a break on the mud plank puffing out their chest and spreading their wings to full glory.

The local administration has undertaken active de-silting work of the channel to convert it into a recreational channel. But that may spell doom for the birds and their surroundings.

Soon the school nearby rings its bell and the children scoot off to the play park while some climb on to the watch tower. Many find place on the benches and much to my surprise identify some of the birds. From the teacher I learn that several indigenous and endangered species such as the painted stork, grey heron, little egret and cattle egret, common teal, spotbills, pintail and flamingos come to Vettangudi. The birds nest in the trees during the months of October to December. During this time, they mate, nest, incubate and hatch eggs.

And once the mercury level rises, they migrate to their usual destinations. Though the Forest department has stepped up vigil, the locals are keen on a larger influx of tourists and therefore, they too chip in to prevent bird hunting.