Vedanthangal is one of the largest bird sanctuaries in India. It is a marshy park with a lake in which over 1,00,000 migratory birds make their home every year. Along the lake bund there is 24′ high observation tower commanding the panoramic view of the sactuary. The majority of birds can be seen between November and February.
About Vedanthangal :
One of the most spectacular breeding grounds in India. Cormorants, herons, storks, pelicans, grebes and many others.The Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary has been protected by the local people for well over 250 years. The sanctuary gets its name from a nearby village and is only 75 Km from Chennai. The bird life (resident & visitors) includes Cormorants, Darters, Herons, Egrets, Open billed Stork, Spoonbill and White Ibis, Little Grebe, Indian Moorhen, Black Winged Stilts, a few migratory ducks and occasionally Grey Pelicans. November to February is the ideal season to visit the sanctuary.
Vedanthangal is a home not only to migratory birds but also to many ornithologists who camp here for weeks observing the birds at close quarters. With a powerful pair of binoculars, you can spot a Cormorant or a Snake Bird dive under the water to gobble up a nervous fish which is its staple diet. Soon after the hunt, the Cormorant must come up to the shore to dry its feathers as nature has not endowed it with oil-glands to water-proof the feathers.
The Spot-Billed Grey Pelican, on the contrary, moves in groups lashing the water with powerful wing strokes driving the fish to a shallow corner for the ultimate assault. The Spoon Bill, however, prefers to devour frogs and insects in the muddy water with its bills half open.
Attraction Of Vedanthangal In Chennai :
Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is one of the oldest bird sanctuaries in India, and has been fiercely protected by the local population for well over 250 years. The authorities introduced 35,000 fish into the lake of Vedanthangal and 15,000 fish into the lake at Karikili. This is done to attract more migratory birds. Read on for the full story.
About 50,000 fingerlings were introduced into the lakes at the Vedanthangal and Karikili bird sanctuaries, about 80 km (49.7 miles) from Chennai, on Tuesday. A young fish is called a fingerling.
Every year, over 40,000 birds, including 26 rare species, some from as far as Siberia, make the two sanctuaries their home from November to June. All water bodies surrounding Vedanthangal, which opened for public viewing in the first week of November, are full thanks to the copious rain from the northeast monsoon.
This year, some 35,000 birds of various species, including Little Cormorant, Night Heron, Grey Heron, Spoon Bill, Little Egret, Large Egret, White Ibis, Cattle Egret, Pintail, Common Teal, Pond Heron or Paddy bird, Shoveller Duck, Dab Chick, Indian Moorhen, Darter or Snake bird, Grey Pelican and Open-Billed Stork, have already arrived.
Forest department officials, who introduced 25,000 fingerlings into the lake at Vedanthangal in November, on Tuesday introduced another 35,000 fish into the lake and 15,000 fish into the lake at Karikili, 8km from Vedanthangal.
“Fingerlings and adult fish are the primary feed for the migratory birds. We bought varieties like Katla, Jeelabi, Rohu and Catfish (Kendai) from private farms in Wallajah near Kancheepuram and brought them here in a container filled with the water from the farms,” forest ranger Dr S David Raj, who led the team of officials, told TOI.
Birds spotted in Vedanthangal :
Vedanthangal sanctuary serves as a nesting home for many species of water birds. Egrets, Grey Heron, Open-billed Stork, Darter, Spoonbill, White Ibis, Night Herons, Grebes, Grey Pelican, Dabchicks, Pintail ducks and Cormmorants are some of the breeding birds that visit the sanctuary.
Birds like Coots, Moorhen and Terns are some of the resident birds in this sanctuary. It is estimated that about 7000 birds are roosting here. Nearly 115 species of birds are said to be found in this sanctuary.
Migratory Birds :
Vedanthangal is one of the most spectacular breeding grounds for migratory birds in India. Some of the migratory birds travel thousands of miles all the way from Siberia to avoid the biting cold. Other migratory birds come from Australia, Pakistan and Sri Lankan countries. This sanctuary is particularly known for migratory birds, including Garganey, Teals, Shovellers, Pintails, Stills and Sandpiper among others.
It is amazing to see that the migratory birds regulated by their biological body clock flock to Vedanthangal after the monsoon with such precision. They embark on their breeding activities quickly and quietly. Infact, during the middle of January the population of migratory birds swells to around 40,000 in numbers.
The migratory birds nest in Vedanthangal sanctuary till February depending on the availability of water. Sometimes the birds feed at the Madhuranthagam tank nearby. Year after year, these migratory birds come from afar to nest during this season.
History Of Vedanthangal In Chennai :
The Vedanthangal lake bird sanctuary has a tradition of the people actively protecting birds coming to the area since time immemorial. The local people understood the relationship between birds and the productivity of their crops even before the concept of wildlife conservation came into vogue. They knew that the bird droppings in the water created guano which acted as fertilizer. Towards the end of the 18th century local villagers complained to the collector of Chengalpet Lionel Palace, about the British soldiers shooting the birds. They demanded and obtained a ‘Cowle’ from the collector (Mr Place, Collector of Chingleput 1796-1798[3]) to protect the birds. In 1936 the collector officially recognized the lake as a sanctuary. In 1962 it was given the legal status of reserved forest under the Madras Forest Act.
Several accounts of the sanctuary were published in the mid-19th Century.[4][5] Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is one of the oldest bird sanctuaries in India, and has been fiercely protected by the local population for well over 250 years. In 1936, the park was notified as a sanctuary, and in 1962, the Madras Forest Act legally accorded the status of a reserve forest to Vedanthangal. Ten years later, the place was declared as a wildlife sanctuary.
In government order (G. O. Ms. No. 199 E&F (FR V(1)) Dept. Dated 8.7.1988) the area has been declared as Vedanthangal Lake Bird Sanctuary, under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
In 1967 a rest house was constructed for the convenience of visiting inspecting officers and tourists.
The area had a compact grove of more than 500 Barringtonia trees earlier. An additional 100 trees were planted in 1973 and over 1,000 trees were planted in 1996.
Location :
Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is located in the state district of Tamil Nadu, Kanchipuram. The nearest city, that is Chennai, is about 85 kilometres from the sanctuary. The famous metropolitan city lies to the north east of the sanctuary. Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary happens to be one of the best picnic spots in the proximity of Chennai. From the city it takes less than two hours to reach this favorite tourist destination.
Best time to visit :
The best time to pay a visit is somewhere between November and March. During this period the birds are busy taking care of their nests. It is advised to reach the place early in the morning or in late afternoon.
Accessibility :
The place can be reached directly by boarding a bus at Chennai which is about 85 kms far from the place.
The nearest railway station to the sanctuary is at Chengalpattu, which is about 30 kms far. The Southern Railways provide the service to the Chengalpattu from the city.
Chennai Airport is the nearest airport and about 60 kms from the sanctuary.
Timings :
7.00 a.m to 6.00 p.m