Tamil Nadu Bird Sanctuaries

In this area we are in some ways in a similar position to many of the below Bird Sanctuaries in that during the monsoon season many reservoirs and catchment areas at Tiruvannamalai get filled with water. Unfortunately as Tiruvannamalai is not a rural village anymore, the water in the reservoir areas gets pumped into the town for commercial and residential use.

 In the last ten years I can only remember one time (about three years ago) when the rains were so bountiful and the ground water table so sufficient, that major reservoir areas like the Samduram Erie did not need to be drained. In that year even in 100 degrees farenheit, the reservoirs remained full throughout the hot Summer.

Samudram Eri after a very good Monsoon

Much of the water running into the catchment areas is alive with the possibility of life and even without the necessity of artifically stocking the reservoir areas, within a couple of months, the lakes and tanks are full of freshwater shrimp, prawns and fish indigenous to Tamil Nadu. One year I even discovered a very large and very beautiful green turtle at the Samudram Erie.

About eight years ago local fishermen received permission from the Municipality to artifically stock the lake with young fish (fish fry), and harvest the fish at the end of the season. There has never been such a year at the Samudram Eri (southwest of the town of Tiruvannamalai) in the variety and number of visting and nesting migratory birds who had come to stay and partake of the fish in the reservoir lake.

I am currently searching for around 5 acres of land at the back of the Samudram Eri in order to create a Bird Haven for both indigenous and migratory birds. Once the land is located, purchased and developed into a beautiful habitat specifically tailored in providing food and a secure nesting environment to visiting birds, I am very excited by the possibility of working harmoniously with local Government to hopefully decide to request that the Samudram Eri be declared a protected bird sanctuary.

This posting is to list current Bird Sanctuaries in Tamil Nadu and to specific the variety and types of birds that visit specific Sanctuaries.

Bird Sanctuaries in Tamil Nadu 

Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary 

This Bird Sanctuary was declared in 1989, with an estimated area of 47.63 hectares. The sanctuary area is within the community tank embankments and its immediate water holding channel, measuring approximately 15 meters from the bottom of the embankment. Most notable feature of the sanctuary is the prominent growth of Babul (Acacia nilotica) trees. It is adjacent to the Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary. 

The Kanjirankulam and Chitrangudi birds sanctuary are the natural habitat of winter migratory birds and provide safe place for roosting, breeding and feeding for birds with considerable diversity in nesting and feeding behavior. 

Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary 

This Sanctuary was declared in the year 1989, with an estimated area of 66.66 hectares in Keela Kanjirankulam and 37.55 hectares in Mela Kanjirankulam. 

Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary 

Spread over 454 hectares the Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary is located in Perambalur district of Tamil Nadu. This Sanctuary is now home for more than 180 species of birds which includes 100 species of land birds. During peak season more than 25,000 birds have been recorded. 

In previous season over 250 nests were counted in what is a breeding ground for Grey Pelican, Spoonbill, Ibis, Openbill stork and the Cormorant. Important land bird species include the Rosy Pastor, Peregrine Falcon, Osprey, Marsh Harrier and the Tawny Eage. 

Karikili Bird Sanctuary 

Located about 86 kilometres from Chennai in Madurantakam Taluk of Chengai Anna District, this is one of the most tranquil and beautiful places near Chennai. Spread over 61.21 hectares, it is comprised of two rain fed irrigation tanks. The water enriched by bird droppings results in increased yield. Beginning with Open Billed Storks, other birds start arriving in September-October. Karikkili is a haven for Ducks and Waders. Pintailed Ducks, Garganey teals, Common Teals, Shovellor, Little Grebe or Dab Chick, Herons and Egrets are amongst other avian visitors. 

Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary 

Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary is a unique sanctuary actively protected and managed by the Koonthakulam village community. The largest breeding water bird reserve in south India attracts more than 100,000 birds annually. It is located 35 kilometers from Tirunelveli. It is comprised of Koonthankulam and Kadankulam tanks which cover an area of 130 hectares. It was declared a Sanctuary in 1994. 

Melselvanur-Keelselvanur Bird Sanctuary 

Mela-Keela Selvanoor Bird Sanctuary was declared in 1998 and is located near Sayalkudi in Ramanathapuram district. This is the biggest Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu. The total area of the Sanctuary is 593.08 hectares. 

Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary 

Point Calimere Wildlife covers an area of 6.66 square miles. This Animal Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary is at Point Calimere, Thanjavur District. It consists of tidal swamps, dry evergreen forests and mangroves. The Sanctuary is famous for its Flamingos. A large variety of water birds including Teals, Gulls, Terns, Plovers and Stilts can be seen during winter months. Mammals include Chital and the Wild Boar. As well as water birds Dolphins and Olive Ridley Turtle come close to the shore. 

Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary has recorded the second largest congregation of migratory water birds in India, with a peak population in excess of 100,000, representing 103 species. 

In October water birds arrive from Rann of Kutch, Eastern Siberia, Northern Russia, Central Asia and parts of Europe for their feeding season and start returning to those breeding places in January. Water birds include the Spot-billed Pelican, Spotted Greenshank, Spoonbill Sandpiper, the Black-necked Stork, White Ibis, Asian Dowitcher, Lesser Flamingo, Spoonbill, Darter and Painted Stork. 

Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary 

This Sancutary has an area of 481 sq kms and it is the second largest brackish water lagoon in India.It straddles the border of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu states on the Coromandal Coast in South India. 

The lake encompasses the Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary. Every year approximately 15,000 Greater Flamingos are reported to visit the lake along with Pelicans, Kingfishers, Herons, Egrets Painted Storks, Spoonbills and Ducks, Little Grebe, Indian Cormorant, Little Cormorant, Asian Openbill Stork, Black-headed Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill, Lesser Whistling Teal, Spot bill Duck, Great Thickknee and Stone Curlew. 

The highest concentrations of Flamingo are found in the periphery of the lagoon where the water level is below 40 centimeters (16 in). The concentrations of flamingos are also associated with high algal, fish and benthic diversity. 

Several species of wintering waterfowl have been noted including Bar-headed Goose, Ruddy Shelduck, Eurasian Wigeon, Gadwall, Common Teal, Northern Pintail, Garganey, Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, Brown-headed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Whiskered Tern, Gull-billed Tern and Caspian Tern. Birds of prey which appear in winter are the: White-bellied Sea Eagle, Osprey, Harriers and Peregrine Falcons. 

Udhayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary 

Udhayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary was created in December 1999. The Sanctuary is home to variety of migratory water birds like Coot, Grey Heron, White Ibis, Open bill Storks, Night Heron and Purple Heron. 

Udhayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary is located in Thiruvarur district of Tamil Nadu. The total area of the sanctuary is 45 hectares. 

The Sanctuary is basically an irrigation tank that is fed by water from Mettur dam and by the northeast monsoon from August till December. It remains dry from April till August. 

Vaduvoor Bird Sanctuary 

Created in July 1999, the Sanctuary attracts more than 40 species of water birds like Ibis, Painted stork, Grey pelican, Pintail, Cormorant, Teals and Herons. 

Vaduvoor Bird Sanctuary is a favorite flyaway spot for migratory birds and has recorded congregation up to 20,000 birds in November. The ideal time to visit the sanctuary is November – December when congregation of migratory birds is maximum. One can spot more than 40 species of water birds like Ibis, Painted stork, Grey pelican, Pintail, Cormorant, Teals and Herons. 

Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary 

Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is one of the smallest and oldest in the country with a unique history. The local people have been protecting the sanctuary for centuries now because they have realized that the bird droppings falling into the tank increases nitrogen content of the water and when used to irrigate crop increases the yield greatly and saves the cost of fertilizers. As far back as 1798, the village folk convinced the authorities to give protection to the birds of the 30 hectare area of the Vedanthangal tank. 

Around 30,000 birds come every season even though the area is just 30 hectares It then attracts multitudes of Herons, Egrets, Storks, Ibises and Spoon Bills. If the monsoon is heavy, these trees can be partially submerged. Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is one of the oldest water bird sanctuaries in the country. 

Vedanthangal in Tamil language means 'hamlet of the hunter' and this area was once a favorite hunting spot for the local landlords some 300 years ago. The region attracted a variety of birds because it’s dotted with small lakes that acted as feeding grounds for the birds. The sanctuary features thousands of birds coming from various countries, some of which can be easily identified. 

Some easily found bird species include Cormorants, Darter, Grebes, Large Egret, Little Egrets, Moorhen, Night Herons, Paddy Bird, Painted Stork, Pintails, Pond Heron, Sandpiper, Shovellers, Terns, White Ibis and many more. 

The migratory birds include Garganey Teals Canada, Snake Bird Sri Lanka, Grey Pelican Australia, Grey Heron Bangladesh, Open-billed Stork Bangladesh, Glossy Ibis Sri Lanka, Painted Stork Siberia, Spoonbill Burma and Spot Bill Duck Canada. 

Vellode Bird Sanctuary 

Vellode Bird Sanctuary of Erode District of Tamil Nadu, has an area of 77.185 hectares. It is situated in Vadamugam Vellode village. 

Vettangudi Bird Sanctuary 

This sanctuary encompasses Periya Kollukudi Patti, Chinna Kollukudi Patti and Vettangudi Patti tanks extending to a total area of 38.4 hectares. It was declared a Bird Sancutary in 1977. 

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Bird Havens 

As well as the 13 established bird sanctuaries at the southernmost continental range in Tamilandu (listed above) further bird havens below. 

• Kallaperambur lake near Thanjavur has recently been declared as a bird sanctuary by the Forest department. Improvement works remain to be undertaken to the lake. 

 • Suchindram Theroor Bird Sanctuary is a proposed protected area comprising the Suchindram Kulam wetlands and Theroor Kulam both near Suchindram town in Kanyakumari District. Being at the extreme southern tip of India, this area is the southernmost bird sanctuary in the continental range of the Central Asian Flyway. 

Suchindram -Theroor Bird Sanctuary is noted for the wide variety of migratory water birds that winter there, including: Painted Stork, Spot-Billed Pelicans. Also seen here are Cattle Egrets, Great Cormorants, Darters, Purple Swamphen, and Bronze-Winged Jacanas. Resident raptors include pied kingfisher, brahminy kite and marsh harrier. 

Other water birds are Dabchick, grey heron, Garganey, purple heron, Cinnamon Bittern, Open Bill Stork, Cotton Pygmy Goose, Whiskered Tern and Little Tern, Black-Winged Stilt, Greenshank, Little Ringed Plover and the Common Sandpiper. 

• Viralimalai Peacock Sanctuary is in the small town of Viralimalai, situated 30 km from Thiruchirapalli and 40 km from Pudukkottai. It is known for its Murugan temple and the adjacent Peacock Sanctuary. The town is bestowed with a large number of wild peacocks, which roam around the Murugan temple. The town, Temple and Peacock Sanctuary have been declared and funded as a Heritage Place by order of the Governor. 

Very Clever Crows

A recent posting in Science Now, the daily online news service of the journal Science explored the question of whether Crows are mind-readers. We all know just how smart and naughty crows are and how they are very successful in usurping other bird and taking over their territories – but the below narrative suggests that crows have a complex intuition that has been seen in only a select few creatures – that of hiding food to protect it from theft. 

Crows Really Are Mind-Readers 

Scrub Jay takes a test

Are crows mind readers? Recent studies have suggested that the birds hide food because they think others will steal it — a complex intuition that has been seen in only a select few creatures. Some critics have suggested that the birds might simply be stressed out, but new research reveals that crows may be gifted after all. 

Cracks first began forming in the crow mind-reading hypothesis last year. One member of a research team from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands spent 7 months in bird cognition expert Nicola Clayton’s University of Cambridge lab in the United Kingdom studying Western scrub jays, a member of the crow family that is often used for these studies. The Groningen team then developed a computer model in which “virtual jays” cached food under various conditions. 

In PLOS ONE, they argued that the model showed the jays’ might be moving their food—or recaching it—not because they were reading the minds of their competitors, but simply because of the stress of having another bird present (especially a more dominant one) and of losing food to thieves. The result contradicted previous work by Clayton’s group suggesting that crows might have a human like awareness of other creatures’ mental states—a cognitive ability known as theory of mind that has been claimed in dogs, chimps, and even rats. 

In the new study, Clayton and her Cambridge graduate student James Thom decided to test the stress hypothesis. First, they replicated earlier work on scrub jays by letting the birds hide peanuts in trays of ground corn cobs—either unobserved or with another bird watching—and later giving them a chance to rebury them. As in previous studies, the jays recached a much higher proportion of the peanuts if another bird could see them: nearly twice as much as in private, the team reports online today in PLOS ONE. 

Then came the stress test. First, Thom and Clayton gave the jays trays with the ground cobs but no food to hide in them—a so-called “sham” session. Then, in a second session, they gave the birds new hiding trays and bowls of peanuts to hide. When the jays were done, the experimenters removed the trays and stole all of the peanuts. Finally, after a short break, the researchers gave each bird yet another round of food, a new tray to hide it in, and one of the trays it had seen earlier: either the sham tray or the ransacked “pilfer” tray. The jays had 10 minutes for recaching. 

If the Groningen model was correct, Thom and Clayton argue, the stress of discovering that food was missing from the pilfer tray ought to drive jays to cache more peanuts than those presented with the sham tray. In fact, there was no difference, even though corvids have excellent memories for hidden food and remarkable abilities to find it again. The hypothesis that jays have theory of mind remains on the table, Thom says. 

Thom and Clayton have “definitely shown that scrub recaching is not as simple as the [Groningen] model presents it,” says Elske van der Vaart, lead author of the Groningen team’s earlier report, who is now at the University of Amsterdam. But she argues that there is still room for doubt about what the results mean. For example, the sham condition—in which the jays had no food to cache—could have stressed the birds as much as the stolen peanuts in the pilfer condition did. 

Amanda Seed, an animal cognition researcher at the University of St. Andrews in the United Kingdom, says the Groningen model’s failure to predict the birds’ caching behavior in the new experiments could “bring the model down like a pack of cards.” But researchers still have to rule out other possible explanations, she says. For example, the birds given pilfered tray may have noticed the missing peanuts too late to affect their overall caching rate, or they may have spent much of their time looking for the missing nuts instead of hiding the new ones. The Cambridge and Groningen groups are planning more work with both real and “virtual” birds to see what is really going on. “I applaud them for rising to the challenge,” Seed says. 

Signature Spider

The Signature Spider (Argiope Anasuja) is also known as the Writing Spider and the Garden Spider. It is commonly found in India often in one’s garden or backyard. Recently someone visiting my house mentioned that I had a signature spider at my front door. I went to look and was so interested by the zigzag pattern on its web which gives it the name “Signature Spider” that I checked the internet to learn more.

This spider is found all over the world. There are around 75 known different species, and although different in colouration each species shares the same distinctive striping on its body. The Signature Spider builds its web close to the ground in order to catch low flying insects such as bees and wasps that travel from flower to flower and is able to eat insects twice its size. This spider’s web is almost invisible except for zigzag stripes on the web. These zigzag stripes are known as the “stabilmentum".

When the web is built the signature spider lines up its legs with the white stripes of the zigzag. The centre of the web is hollow and this is where the spider sits. It groups its legs together to appear as a four legged creature but also when its legs are together, the hairs on the legs intertwine and act as a sun reflector along with the bright flower. white X in its web. The spider’s legs reflect the sun and its brightly coloured body dupes insects into thinking it is a flower.

 

The male (which is smaller than the female), spins a web alongside the female’s web known as a companion web, after mating the female will kill the male and then lay her eggs onto this companion web and wrap them up into a sac. This sac can hold from 400 to 1,400 egg. The eggs hatch in the autumn but they remain locked inside until spring. Spiders are cannibals and they eat each other to stay alive in the sac until they are strong enough to break through the sac walls. 

The venom of the Signature Spider is harmless to humans. It is used throughout the world for therapeutic medical agents and as an ingredient in beauty products.

Bay Backed Shrike

A strikingly coloured, delicately built and fine-billed bird, the Bay-Backed Shrike is a beautiful bird, usually found singly, and commonly habituates the area of the Samudram Erie. This is a bird of open country and cultivation, and it inhabits dry, bushy areas with scattered trees or at the edge of woodland. 

The most distinctive feature of this bird is its black facial mask extending from the side of the neck through the eyes to the base of the hooked bill, that sits in stark contrast to the grey crown and shoulders and chestnut-maroon upperparts. The upper-wings and long, white-tipped tail are black, and the underparts of the body are whitish with a wash of brown. The bill and legs are black, and a large white patch sits on the primary wing feathers. 

Strikingly Coloured Bird

The Bay-Backed Shrike is the size of a Bulbul and is the smallest of the Indian Shrikes. This bird which is widely distributed is generally found singly. This curious bird may also be identified by its rather quiet, pleasant warbling song that is mixed with harsher ‘churring’ notes and much mimicry of other birds calls. 

Video of Bay Backed Shrike

This bird which is the same size as the Bulbul flies low and fast between perches and alights upon an exposed branch of a bush or an electricity wire, from which its watches for its insect prey in its characteristic upright position. After spotting its target, it swoops down onto the prey and catches it on the ground. Its diet consists almost exclusively of insects, but small lizards and even mice may also be taken in this way. 

Usually, the Bay-Backed Shrike feeds alone or in pairs, but it is always bold and conspicuous when feeding, and during times of abundant prey, it may store its food for periods when food is scarce impaled a sharp point, such as a thorn. Thus secured the prey can be ripped with the Shrike’s strong hooked bill, but its feet are not suited for tearing. 

Juvenile birds look like washed-out versions of adults.

 

Juvenile Bird

Nest of Bay-Backed Shrike

During breeding this bird’s nest is a small, neat cup built from grass, feathers, wool and other fibres and lined with grass. It is placed in a fork of a small tree or a large bush, up to ten metres above the ground, and its territory is defended around this nesting site as well as around favoured perches. A clutch of eggs is laid and incubated by the female for fifteen days, whilst the male brings the female food. The male also supplies all the food for the young nestlings once they have hatched, and they are tended to for around two weeks before they fledge. The Bay-Backed Shrike may produce two broods each breeding season.

Colour Vision in Animals

  

It will come as no surprise that an animal's view of the world is different to our own, but what isn't so clear is exactly what they see. A recent exhibition at the Royal Society showed images that illustrates what our pets and other animals see when they look at each other and when they look at us. 

The fascinating insight shows the latest research into the colour vision of animals, many of which can see ultraviolet, or colours that we can't see, making their world view completely different to ours. 

Birds, for example, can see ultraviolet so a peacock looking at a potential mate would not see the beautiful rainbow of greens and blues that we behold, but a plainer yet more brightly coloured display of plumage. 

Birds have four types of cone cells in their eyes called photoreceptors (humans have three), and can see many more colours than we can. They can also see ultraviolet, which means that the 'eye' markings in a peacock's tail features looks sharper.

Purple haze: Using the ultraviolet recepters in its eyes the peacock would see a mating feather display more like the example in the above photograph.

Understanding how animals see the world could be key to understanding their behaviour. 

Animal colouration provides some of the most striking examples of evolution by natural and sexual selection. But animal colours did not evolve for our benefit; the impressive array of animal colours that we see (and can’t see) in the natural world allows animals to communicate with each other, to attract mates and to avoid predators. 

Dr Tom Pike, Senior Lecturer from Lincoln University’s School of Life Sciences, said: ‘We rely overwhelmingly on colour vision in our everyday lives, and tend to assume that what we see represents the limits of the visual world. 

'However, colour vision in animals, and their resultant perception of the visual world, often differs considerably from our own. The eyes of cuttlefish evolved separately from humans and are completely different from ours - they can't see colours, but can discern the polarisation of light, which lets them pick out contrasts better.  The colourful spots are designed to fend off predators - what the butterflies themselves see is quite different ‘Many, for example, can see ultraviolet light, some can see polarised light, and a good number can see many more colours than we can,' says Pike. 

'Having said that, certain animals see far fewer colours than us – something that anyone who is colour blind can sympathise with.' 

‘Because animal colours evolved for the benefit of animal - and not human - eyes, understanding the visual world from an animal’s point of view can explain why some animals are bright while others are dull. Some are highly patterned and others plain. This allows us not only to shed exciting new light on the animal colours we can see, but also to understand the importance of colours that we can’t.’ 

Nesting Behaviour of Indian Birds

Below is a fascinating narrative entitled, “A Family Dedicated to Birds” which goes into detail about Bal Pandi and explores the nesting habits of many of the bird species found at Koothankulam Bird Sanctuary. 

To find out more about Koothankulam Bird Sanctuary and Bal Pandi’s work at that place, go to my previous link.

“Bal Pandi’s service to birds with love and affection like a mother is praiseworthy in this Twenty First Century. This is not only confined to him but his wife who is no more was also a great bird lover. The couple engaged themselves in feeding orphan chicks and bathing them. Whirlwinds with downpours may happen during April/May. At that time hundreds of chicks may fall from the nests of painted storks, pelicans, cormorants, openbills, spoonbills, darters and egrets. Once fallen the chicks become orphans and they will not be again able to return to the nest at any cost. So Bal Pandi rescues such orphans and nourishes with fish bought at the Koothankulam bird sanctuary, Tirunelveli District and secures them in cage. After three months the juveniles are freed to lead an independent life. Even after they leave the birds reared by Bal Pandi recognize him and come near and beat their wings and call expressing their gratitude. 

Bal Pandi overseeing the Sanctuary

The Governments of Tamil Nadu Forest Department engage the couple as contingent staff for the past 20 year with poor payments. Bal Pandi survives his wife with two sons and two daughters. A daughter has been married and recent demise of Mrs Vallithai his wife is a great loss to him as well as the birds. Many painted storks and egrets breed even in middle of his village. When a nest slides down he erects a pole to support it. Sometimes his pocket may not have any penny, but he would be fishing in the Koothakulam lake to feed fish to his orphan birds. Once when he got into a public bus to go the nearby Tirunelveli town, pelican juveniles also climbed into bus. Such a pure love he enjoyed from the birds he nourished. Birds have hearts full of thanks but humans alone may be thankless even to their own parents. 

When I invite him to come to Coimbatore during the nesting season i.e. from March-July, he denies and the next minute he asks me who would look after his orphan birds. He moves closely with the orphanage birds, and his routine work is to watch for new incoming migratory birds and their number. He wants to know how they would live in that sanctuary and till which month. When will they leave for the foreign land? He safeguards foreign birds along with the local birds. Nearly 150 species of birds we may see in around Koothakulam. He planted a large number of trees with the assistance of the Forest Department and watered them. Of course! All his works were shared by his wife. He introduces the birds to the visitors of the sanctuary and safeguards the locality from humans and their herds. 

Raising the young separated from their parents

He is capable of writing and singing folk songs. While walking on the bund of the Sanctuary lake he used to sing these songs. In the last verse of his folk songs he sings that he likes to pass on from this world only from the bund of the Koothakulam lake. Every day early in the morning before the sun rises he walks along the bund of the lake, the narrow bunds of the paddy fields to reach Kadankulam to watch birds. He prepares a daily check list of birds and notes down in his diary. He is exposed to nature and has a deep knowledge about birds. He can identify birds without binoculars and spot hidden nests. 

When a painted stork chick falls from the tree its leg maybe fractured and blood would be oozing from its beak. Bal Pandi does not hesitate seeing the filth but immediately takes a mouthful of water, puts his mouth over the beak of the swooned chick and forcibly pushes the water into the stomach of the bird. He wraps and sets the banana bark and ties with a thread to hold fractured leg in place. If a pelican falls from the tree, due to its weight and softness of the body, its belly may get ruptured. Bal Pandi, with a mother’s love, becomes a veterinary doctor, stuffs the organs back inside the belly and stitches it with nerve and pours water. 

For a few weeks the wounded pelican is laid down on a sack so that worms and parasites will not infect the wound. He applies slag and residue of the grindstone to the wounds which heal very fast. In due course the stitches become absorbed into the bird’s body. Sometime the pelican chicks may eat clay due their enormous appetite. At that time he feeds them fish to avoid clay eating. Each and every species of birds has a variety of lice, flies and ticks which thrive on the blood of birds. Bal Pandi removes them by bathing the birds twice daily. At times these parasitic flies jump onto him and crawl all over his body. At once he runs to the lake and jumps in. In the same manner he takes care of openbills, spoonbills, cormorants, darters, night herons and egrets. 

If chicks fall from the nests they all perish due to starvation. It is a pathetic scene to watch. Some orphan birds pick spilled fish from the nests above in the trees. A few days may pass like this. But dogs, foxes and raptors snatch away the chicks. The mother birds are incapable of carrying these chicks back to their nests. So the only source of hope for the fallen chicks to thrive in this world is Bal Pandi. I am really astonished at the blindness of conservation associations and charities of Nature who abstain from funding this meritorious service to Birds.

Birds and animals are quiet fond of the one who rescued and nourished them and repay thankfulness in all manners. The birds show their gratitude by calls, gestures and wing beats and they never forget. Whereas man will just say thanks for the moment and then think about spending the money received from the helpers. He even forgets his mother and father who brought him into this world and nourished him. Think about the Almighty! Can they at least thank the visible Nature?” 

The writer of this narrative, Chinna Sathan has combined with Bal Pandi to write, “Diary on the Nesting Behaviour of Indian Birds”. 

To find out more about this book and to order it visit the website at this link. 

To read more about this extraordinary conservationist and the work he is doing at Koothankulam Sanctuary, please go to this link entitled, “Bal Pandi Saving a Paradise”. 

Large Grey Babbler

The Large Grey Babbler (Turdoides malcolmi) is common throughout the Arunachala area. This bird habituates the Arunachala Samudra area as well as scrub, open forest and garden land throughout the Tiruvannamalai District. The Large Grey Babbler is usually seen in small groups and is easily distinguished from other babblers in the region by its nasal call.

This bird is pale grey-brown, with grey forehead. Its tail is long and graduated with white outer feathers which are very conspicuous in flight and when the tail is spread. It is one of the largest babblers in the region.

This species is found in small flocks which keep in contact with loud nasal calls. Its call, is loud and discordant, crying: kay, kay, kay, kay monotonously which is repeated by several individuals at the same time. Members of the flock may join in defending against predators. Individuals may also mob their own reflections.

This bird forages on or close to the ground, hopping and leaping in search of prey. It feeds mainly on insects but also feed on small lizards, molluscs and arachnids, and also feeds on seeds, grains and berries.

The Large Grey Babbler nesting season is irregular, but it believed to be more or less throughout the year. The usual clutch is four eggs. The nest is a shallow cup placed in a shrub often of thorny species. Their nests are parasitized by the Pied Cuckoo and the Common Hawk-Cuckoo.

Below is a video of a Large Grey Babbler feeding a Common Hawk-Cuckoo who she thinks is her offspring, but is a result of the nest being earlier parazitized by the Mother Common Hawk-Cuckoo. 

Koothankulam Bird Sanctuary

I am posting the below story about an extraordinary Bird Sanctuary located near the tiny village Koothankulam in Tamil Nadu, where migratory nesting birds live in ecological harmony with the villagers of the community. This Bird Sanctuary is a great template to us all in how to live symbiotically with the planet and the creatures on it. 

Perhaps we here at Tiruvannamalai, with our large reservoirs which get flooded in the rainy season can learn essential ecological lessons from the simple, earnest village folk of Koothankulam. Every day brings the possibility of a new beginning and what amazing potential exists here at Arunachala for great wonders and great success. 

Bal Pandian with young fledgling

Koothankulam Bird Sanctuary, which adjoins the tiny village of Koothankulam is comprised of a couple of tanks spread over 130 hectares (300 acres). It was declared a Bird Sanctuary in 1994 and is the largest reserve for breeding water birds in South India. Located inside this reserve is a Babul plantation of 30 hectares (70 acres) and it serves as the main breeding ground for visiting birds. 

What makes this sanctuary unique is that it is actively protected and managed by the Koothankulam village community. Local people take a keen interest in protecting the Sanctuary and they live together in total harmony. Birds that live in villagers’ backyards are regarded as harbingers of luck and are protected. Bird excreta and silt from the tanks are collected by villagers in the summer and applied as fertilizer to the fields. The villagers’ interest and concern for the birds is evident from the way they tolerate the nesting of over 5,000 painted storks and other birds in trees scattered through the village (outside the sanctuary area). In peak nesting season, the noise is deafening with the added nuisance of bird droppings everywhere. 

Nesting Migratory Birds at Sanctuary

Year after year the villagers go about their business like any ordinary settlement. Protecting the birds, their nests and fledglings. Fallen chicks are taken care of in a rescue centre till they are able to fly on their own. Anyone disturbing the nests are punished by ignominiously shaving their heads, or making the miscreant ride on a donkey in a public procession. The Indian festival of Lights (Diwali) is not celebrated in this area because the sound of crackers would drive away the winged visitors. 

More than forty-three species of resident and migratory water birds visit Koothankulam Bird Sanctuary here every year. More than 100,000 migratory birds start coming by December and fly away to their northern homes by June or July after they lay and hatch their eggs and the young ones are mature enough to fly with the adults. 

Bal Pandian with one of his patients

An inspiration behind this unique, symbiotic bird sanctuary is that of Bal Pandian (and his wife Vallithai Pandian, until her demise several ago). Bal Pandian has been instrumental in the protection of birds for the last thirty years and has dedicated his life to avian conservation. 

Nesting Birds at Sanctuary

Over the decades, Pandian has studied nesting, feeding, and other behaviour of several species. He maintains a daily diary of species, numbers, nesting, and other key features that he observes. His checklist currently has 203 species. 

Bal Pandian with his Bird records

A very interesting narrative of Koothankulam describe Bal Pandian as follows: 

“He is often hailed as the “bird-man” of Koothankulam by the mainstream media. But he is rather much more than half human and half bird. He is more human than the mainstream philanthropists as he has the greater insight and wisdom that only by conserving the environment and fellow beings like birds and fauna we humans can survive and hope to face the ecological catastrophes in the near future. He is more human than our mainstream humanity in the sense that he has invested his whole life and energy for the preservation of life and its numerous manifestations in his immediate environment. He is not just a bird-man but a greater human being who acts for the whole humanity and the planet, for our greater futures and posterity at large.” 

Indian Robin

The Indian Robin (Tamil = Wannatikuruvi, Washerman bird) is a size of a sparrow. The Male is black with white wing patch and a rusty red under a cocked tail. The hen is ashy brown, with no wing patch. They feed mostly on insects but are known to take frogs and lizards especially when feeding young at the nest. Individuals may forage late in the evening to capture insects attracted to lights.

 

This bird enjoys frequenting arid and stony country, semi-desert with scattered bushes around habitation. Although I may not have noticed it in my own garden, this bird frequents houses around villages, commonly perching on thatched roofs of huts and entering verandahs to pick up insects. This bird is widespread in this area. It is commonly found in open scrub areas and often seen running along the ground or perching on low thorny shrubs. All populations are resident and non-migratory. 

 

 

Male Indian Robin on ground

 

 

I’ve often noticed this Robin in the scrub land of the Samudram Erie, but thus far never noticed one in my own garden, where I often receive visitors from its compatriot, the Oriental Robin Magpie. 

 

 

Male Indian Robin on Perch

 

This bird hops along the ground. The male utters some cheery notes, but has no song as such except in the mating season when the male sings and displays itself by lowering and spreading its tail feathers and strutting around the female, displaying its sides and fluffing its undertail coverts. The songs of males have variants for inviting mates and for deterring other males. Males will drive away other males and patrol their territory by flying with slow wing-beats from perch to perch. They may sometimes peck at their reflections. An aggressive display involves fluffing up the feathers and holding the bill high. 

 

The nesting season for the Indian Robin in the South is from March to June and August to September. Its nest is usually a pad of grass, rootlets and rubbish lined with feathers or hair and sometimes sloughed off snakeskin. 

 

 

Indian Robin Hen

Male Indian Robin on Feeding Duty

This bird has tremendous adaptability and can nest anywhere provided it thinks it is safe. The nest is often placed under stone, in earth holes or tree-stumps or within derelict cans or pots. It usually lays 2-3 creamy white coloured eggs. The female alone incubates with the male sharing other domestic duties. 

Nestlings may feign dead (thanatosis) when handled. Nestlings may be preyed on by the Rufous Treepie. The same nest site may be reused in subsequent years.