In & Around: Vedanthangal Birds Sanctuary

Vedanthangal Birds Sanctuary

(வேடந்தாங்கல் பறவைகள் சரணாலயம்)

Place Name : Vedanthangal Birds Sanctuary
(pronounced Ved-uhn-tangle)
Location : Vedanthangal, TamilNadu (Kancheepuram Dist), India
Best Season : From November to January
Distance by Road: 80 Km from Chennai
Road Condition : Very Good
Other Details:
1)Entrance Fee is 5/- Rs. (For Camera it is 25/- Rs)
2) Outside Food is Allowed
3) Good Car parking Facility
4) Rest Rooms are Available

Features :
Vedanthangal Birds Sanctuary (வேடந்தாங்கல் பறவைகள் சரணாலயம்) is a 30 ha (70-acre) sanctuary located in the Kancheepuram District of the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The sanctuary is about 80 km from Chennai on National Highway 45 (NH45) south of Chengalpattu.

(Entrance to Vedanthangal)

(Road Map for Chennai to Vedanthangal)

Bird species : A view of Vedanthangal bird sanctuaryThe 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.

History:
It’s actually India’s oldest bird sanctuary, with quite a fascinating history. Local villagers realised hundreds of years ago that the guano from the thousands of storks and cormorants that arrived like clockwork after the monsoons to breed was enriching the water with natural fertiliser, and that crop yields were higher where this rather smelly water was channelled into the fields. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement and all was well until towards the end of the 18th century when British soldiers arrived and began doing shooting everything within range. The villagers were so outraged they complained to local officials and won protection for their birds. In 1936 the lake was officially declared a sanctuary, in 1962 it was given the legal status of reserved forest under the Madras Forest Act, and – finally – in 1988 it was given full protection and declared a Nature Sanctuary under the Wildlife (protection) Act.

Below are some snaps of this place

1) Road Condition to Vedanthangal