NELLORE: The Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary, one of largest pelican habitats in South Asia, is a bird lover's delight in winter. Nearly 3,500 different migratory birds have already arrived and more are expected to come in the next three months.
Located about 20 km north of the Pulicat lake, the bird sanctuary extends over 40,040 hectares. It is the breeding ground for birds which migrate seasonally from places like Antarctica, US and China. The birds spotted include the Belied Pelican, White Ibis, Night Heron, Openbilled Stork, Painted Stork, Little Cormorant, Spoonbill, Coot, Flamingo, Babblers and Waders to name a few.
Though the bird sanctuary is more famous for the Flamingo Festival, it is visited by about 1,500 grey pelicans against the total population of 5,000 across the country. The sanctuary is also a habitat for freshwater flooded forest tree. "The Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary provides breeding ground for several rare and endangered species. The small freshwater irrigation tank with Barringtonia trees can withstand inundation for longer periods," the district forest officer Ch Pardhananda Prasad said.
The sanctuary also offers facilities like the environmental education centre, museum, library which offer information for birds watchers. The sanctuary is also home to animals like jackals, Slender Loris, Monitor Lizard, tortoises and highly poisonous snakes.
The migratory birds start arriving from October and they stay up till April. The birds start preparing nests from February second week as their breeding begins in March. The sanctuary also provides a closer view to ornithologists of the feeding, lifestyle and mating process of grey pelicans. The DFO said the birds go to the Pulicat lake in search of snails which are available there in good numbers. "After completing their feeding, the birds brings along around oneandhalf kg of snails for their children in their throats. More interestingly the female grey pelican brings along a 5 cm stick, catching it with her nose to indicate about 'mating'. Then the birds hug each other by weaving their wings together which is a rare sight for bird lovers," explained Pardhananda Prasad.
He said proposals have been sent to the government for arrangement of an iron fencing to cover 450 hectares. Prasad said they have also sought permission from the government to declare the sanctuary as an evergreen dry forest.