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Photo: K. PICHUMANI

WINTER VISITOR A Golden Oriole in a park at Anna Nagar

Except when they chose the Theosophical Society, the Adyar estuary or the Guindy National Park, bird lovers can’t have a meaningful bird watching experience in the city. This situation will improve only if the Chennai Corporation goes through w ith its plan to set up a bird corner in at least one park in each of its ten zones. There is already an indication that busy zones which can’t provide a congenial atmosphere for birds to roost and nest will be dropped from the list.

The programme is in fact under way, with some activity at the Anna Nagar Tower Park, My Lady’s Garden (Park Town) and the Nageswara Park (Mylapore).

Bowls have been placed on trees for birds to begin nesting. Next in line are installation of signage (explaining the bird life in a park), bathing basins and planting of fruit-bearing trees. According to the Department of Parks, Ficus, Mimosa and West Indian Cherry trees will be grown. Trees bearing fruits that appeal to human beings will be avoided to prevent people from pelting stones at the fruits and disturbing the birds.

To sustain this programme, the Corporation plans to involve non-government organisations focussed on protecting environment and wildlife. Right now, the Trust for Environment Monitoring and Action Initiating (EMAI) and Nizhal work closely with the Corporation.

Recently, the EMAI held a photo exhibition on the birds visiting the Anna Nagar Tower Park and distributed flyers educating people on what to do to increase bird traffic in their neighbourhood.

The Tower Park is home to 20 species of birds. As the pond has been deepened and secured by a barbed wire fence, it supports a sizeable number of white-breasted waterhen and common moorhen.

Mynahs, rose-ringed parakeets and the predatory Shikra build nests on the trees. The Golden Oriole is a winter visitor.

Once the bird corner is complete, more feathers and colours will be added to the Tower Park.

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