Migratory birds have started arriving this year in Chennai even though the rains have played truant. With water levels low in many lakes and reservoirs, their numbers have been low in some places, but nevertheless the birds have kept their date with the city.
“The indications are that the migratory season has already begun. From Pulicat to Pallikaranai marshland, all the migratory birds that arrive at a particular date have arrived,” said K.V.R.K. Thirunaranan, founder of The Nature Trust.
He said the Pallikaranai marshland normally sees five types of ducks during this period. “As far as we know, the migratory ducks have come. Also, 53 species of birds come to the marshland every year, and they’ve already arrived. About 400-500 pelicans are also there and nesting has started,” he said. At Pulicat, Oyster Catchers, Plovers and Flamingoes were seen this year, he added. “While the birds have come into the city earlier this year, many of them have been found dehydrated and have not been able to sustain the heat because the rains have come late,” said T. Murugavel, a naturalist.
Trouble at Vedanthangal
Breeding could be a problem this year at Vedanthangal if the rains fail, he said.
The water level at the Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary, which sometimes sees more than 30,000 birds, might be a cause for concern. The sanctuary’s bed has nearly dried up due to the deficit in this year’s rainfall.
“Only in the last two days, it seems to have filled up a bit,” Mr. Thirunaranan said. He, however, added that the birds that migrate to Vedanthangal normally are dependent on the 25-odd lakes around the bird sanctuary.
“We are hoping for more rains. If it rains, the number of birds will increase,” he said. Till last week, the visitors to the sanctuary were returning disappointed as there was no water and not much of a bird population.