Migratory birds flock to Kazhuveli wetlands for winter sojourn
The Hindu
Migratory birds flock to Kazhuveli wetland in Villupuram district, TN. 200+ species of birds, incl. near-threatened Eurasian Curlew, have been sighted. The wetland is a potential Ramsar site, visited by 40,000 migratory birds on Central Asian flyway. Pre-migratory season census scheduled.
With the onset of the winter season, hundreds of migratory birds have started arriving at Kazhuveli bird sanctuary in Villupuram district.
Beginning November, many species of migratory birds start arriving in droves from Siberia, North Africa, Europe and the foothills of the Himalayas – among them are the Eurasian Curlew, a near threatened species, Caspian Tern, Little ringed Plover and Eurasian Spoonbill.
Located close to Marakkanam on the East Coast Road, the Kazhuveli wetland, spread over an expanse of 670 sq.km of catchment area, is one of the major wetlands on the Coromandel Coast after the Pulicat Lake.
The lake is connected to the Bay of Bengal by the Uppukalli Creek and the Yedayanthittu estuary and is visited for nesting by migratory birds on the Central Asian flyway. The southern part of the wetland has been reserved land since 2001.
Listed as one of Tamil Nadu’s 141 prioritised wetlands, Kazhuveli is also a wetland of international significance and a potential Ramsar site, according to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change’s ‘Wetlands of India’ portal.
According to District Forest Officer Sumesh Soman, “Kazhuveli has varied habitat including sloping wetlands preferred by shore birds, darters and waders, birds on floating vegetation and open grasslands preferred by different species of birds and fauna. Kazhuveli is home to over 200 species of birds and is recognised as an important stopover and breeding ground for about 40,000 migratory birds. As many as 38 bird species including long distance migrants have been sighted by birders in the wetlands at Oorani, Nanakkalmedu, Hanumanthai and the Vandipalayam bridge.”
According to a 2004 assessment of the Indian Bird Conservation Network and Bird Life International, Kazhuveli supports more than 20,000 birds every year. The lake has a feeding ground for long-distance migrants from the cold subarctic regions of Central Asia and Siberia including Black-tailed Godwits, Eurasian Curlew, White Stork, Ruff and Dunlin.
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