Tamil Nadu Wildlife Conservation - IV

4. Kanjirankulam Birds Sanctuary

• Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary is a Protected area near Mudukulathur, Ramanathapuram District and adjacent to Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary.
• It is notable as a nesting site for several migratory heron species that roost in the prominent growth of babul trees there.

• The sanctuary vegetation can be classified generally as that of Tropical Dry Deciduous type.
• The sanctuary also offers ideal habitat for several winter migratory birds like Painted stork, little egret, Great egret.
• Heronry species, a colonial bird can be seen here in huge numbers. The sanctuary is visited by almost 170 species of birds.
• Due to the presence of scrub jungle and surrounding agricultural fields, the vegetation cover does not permit the presence of large or medium-sized mammals.

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5. Chitrangudi Birds Sanctuary

• Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary locally known as "Chitrangudi Kanmoli" is a Protected area located in Chitrangudi village, Mudukulathoor Taluk, Ramanathapuram District.
• It is adjacent to Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary.
• The sanctuary vegetation is mostly tropical dry deciduous forest with grassy areas.
• The breeding population of migratory water birds arrive here between October and February and include: spot-billed pelican, Asian openbill stork, grey heron, purple heron, little egret and great egret.

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6. Udayamarthandapuram Birds Sanctuary

• Udayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary is a protected area located in Thiruvarur District and it is home to a variety of birds.
• The Sanctuary’s diverse habitat includes lily patches, reed brakes, aquatic grass, etc.
• A large number of Purple Moorhen and Open bill storks can be seen during the months of February and March.

• Many migratory birds also visit the sanctuary like Coot, Grey Heron, Night Heron, Purple Heron, Little cormorant, Darter, Indian Reef Heron and White necked stork.
• About 10000 birds congregate here during peak season from November- December.

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7. Vaduvoor birds Sanctuary

• Vaduvoor Bird Sanctuary is a bird sanctuary located in the town of Vaduvur in Tiruvarur District.
• The irrigation tank receives water from November to April every year which attracts a numerous foreign bird from Europe and America.
• There are also numerous lakes which provides the most required variety of fishes for the birds.

• 20,000 birds from 38 different species visit the sanctuary every year.

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8. Koonthankulam-Kadankulam Birds Sanctuary

• Koonthankulam or Kunthankulam Bird Sanctuary is a protected area declared as a sanctuary in 1994.
• It adjoins the tiny village of Koonthankulam in Nanguneri Taluk of Tirunelveli district.
• This Sanctuary consist of Koonthankulam and Kadankulam irrigation tanks.
• This sanctuary is actively protected and managed by the Koonthankulam village community.
• More than 43 species of resident and migratory water birds visit here every year.

• More than 100,000 migratory birds start coming by December and fly away to their northern homes by June or July.

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9. Karaivetti Birds Sanctuary

• The Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary is a protected area located in the Ariyalur District.
• This freshwater lake is fed by Pullambadi, Kattalal canal and attracts thousands of birds every year.
• The sanctuary is one of the most important fresh water feeding ground for migratory water birds in the state of Tamil Nadu.
• It has recorded the largest congregation of water birds among all the tanks in the state. Of the 188 species of birds recorded in the sanctuary, 82 are water birds.

• Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary is home to migratory birds such as Bar-headed goose, Northern pintail, White Stork, Garganey, Blue-winged teal, Osprey and common sandpiper.

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10. Vellode Birds Sanctuary

• Vellode Birds Sanctuary is located in the Erode District.
• It is at a large lake surrounded by semi-dark bushes, and it is home to many foreign birds.
• This Bird Sanctuary is quite distinctive because it is concentrated in a huge lake and there are no forests surrounding it.

• The sanctuary features thousands of birds coming from various countries, some of which can be easily identified include cormorants, teals, pintail ducks, pelicans, and darters.

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11. Melaselvanur-Kilaselvanur Birds Sanctuary

• Melselvanur – Keelselvanur Bird Sanctuary is located near Sayalgudi in Ramanathapuram district.
• The sanctuary was declared in the year 1998 and it is the biggest bird’s sanctuary in Tamil nadu.
• This sanctuary is considered to be the best heronry site in Ramanathapuram district.
• This place attracts 40 species of birds during winter.
• Eurasian spoonbill, painted storks and grey pelicans are the three-flagship species of this sanctuary.
• Pelicans, Open billed Storks, White ibis and Egrets regularly nest in the sanctuary.

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12. Theerthangal Bird Sanctury

• Theerthangal Bird Sanctury is located in Ramanathapuram district.
• The sanctuary is home to several local and migratory birds.

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13. Sakkarakottai Tank Birds Sanctuary

• Sakkarakottai bird sanctuary is basically an irrigation tank that is used for storing water for agriculture which is located in Ramanathapuram district.
• It is recharged by northeast monsoon from October to January.
• The area is an important and unique habitat known for varied avian fauna.

• This sanctuary provides an ecologically sustainable habitat for more than 42 bird species.
• About 5,000 birds belonging to 30 species were listed during the season and many different varieties of migratory birds arrive for feeding purpose.
• Also, it having rare, endangered and threatened species like the great cormorant, purple heron, comb duck, common teal, common redshank and common greenshank.

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