Pallikaranai’s early birds, sight for sore eyes

According to bird watchers in the city, the marshland has started receiving birds like ruffs, black-tailed godwits and wood sandpipers in small numbers. Usually, the influx of migratory birds is witnessed in the marshland during winter season.

KVRK Thirunaranan, founder of ‘The Nature Trust’ and a bird watcher said that they were overjoyed to spot such birds before the setting in of the north-east monsoon. 

“We spotted ruff birds, which travel around 30,000 km from northern Eurasia. Though such birds would come to Pallikaranai marshland every year, they have landed in small numbers now itself,” he said. They recorded the arrival of other birds like wood sandpiper. Noting that there are around 31 water-bodies around Pallikaranai marshland, he stressed that the protection of these ecosystems is imperative. 

Bird watchers say that between December and January every year, around 25,000 to 26,000 birds including Indian varieties could be spotted in this region. Bird lovers expressed concern that the officials need to take immediate measures to protect water-bodies to attract these flocks in large numbers and they should also crack the whip on poaching of birds. 

When contacted, Asokan, the District Forest Officer (DFO), Chennai said authorities of the department were taking adequate measures to protect water-bodies and birds. “We want to prevent encroachment and have formed an anti-poaching committee. We have also sent a proposal to the state forest dept to remove vegetation in water-bodies located around marshlands,” he adds.