Chennai: The Pallikaranai marshland is teeming with more than 10,000 birds, boosted by the arrival of at least five species of ducks.
Chennai District Forest Officer V A Saravanan said members of the Common teal, northern pintail, northern shoveller, garganey, and Eurasian wigeon species of ducks were the latest arrivals at the ecosensitive wetland. However, photographing them may not be an easy task, as the marshland is filled with plenty of water. "The marshland is now a bird watchers' paradise. So many numbers of birds have not even arrived at the Vedanthangal sanctuary in neighbouring Chengalpet district, though half of November is over," he said.
Besides, pelicans, white ibises, cormorants, grey herons and darters have already started nesting activities, mainly on trees at the rear side of the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) premises, said K V R K Thirunaranan, who has been monitoring and collecting data on birds at the marshland. A large number of migratory birds, including pelicans and painted storks, have also arrived at the Kovalam Creek along East Coast Road (ECR), he said.
At the Pallikaranai marsh, Thirunaranan and his team of volunteers were in for a surprise when they recorded as many as three white wagtails, "Normally, these passerine birds come very late to the marshland where we have recorded just a pair of the birds. But, this year we have already sighted three white wagtails," he said.
Raptors such as Greater Spotted Eagle and Marsh Harrier, which are mainly winter migrants, have also arrived at the wetland. "The diversity of birds at the Pallikaranai marshland is its unique feature, which makes it more attractive to both the bird watchers and nature lovers," Saravanan added.