Flamingos in larger numbers settling in at Pallikaranai

Bird watchers across the city are delighted with the increasing number of flamingos inhabiting the Pallikaranai marshland. “There were very few flamingos some years ago. But now, their numbers are on the rise. We conducted a survey a few days ago and it showed that the marshland gives space to close to 700 flamingos,” said KVRK Thirunaranan, founder, The Nature Trust, and a bird watcher. 

The birds have been much more at ease because the Forest Department’s watch has meant that poaching and other disturbances have been in check. 

“After the Forest Department undertook restoration works in the marshland, flamingos in large numbers started arriving. Further, flamingos would usually stay 100km away from the city. Since the marshland provides safety and food, the birds are drawn to it,” Thirunaranan pointed out. He also recalled that there was only one shallow feeder in 2008 and two in 2009. 

KV Sudhakar, another bird watcher from the Madras Naturalists’ Society (MNS), said that security would be a major factor for all birds. “Going by the present scenario, flamingos have largely settled down because there is enough security and constant monitoring of the marshland,” he said, hoping that the spot would attract other rare birds in the future. 

According to Forest Department sources, the Pallikaranai marshland, that was like a much encroached upon dumpyard decades ago, is today a cynosure, with many more kinds of birds landing here and flamingos staying for a longer time. 

An official from the Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest explained that the marshland had become a beautiful place and was drawing many more visitors than usual. “We are continuously monitoring this place and expecting a larger number of birds,” the official said.