28/08/2017
Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is the oldest bird sanctuary in India. Covering an area of just 74 acres, it is also one of the smallest in the country. Vedanthangal in Tamil translates to ‘hamlet of the hunter’. It was a favorite hunting ground of rich landlords back in the early 1700’s who hunted mainly for sport. Vedanthangal’s wetlands of small lakes and water bodies rich in their unique ecosystem attracted a rich diversity of birds and still do today. Realizing Vedanthangal’s ornithological as well as ecological importance, the then British government took steps to develop it into a sanctuary for birds in 1798. Nearly 60 years later, the collector of Chenglepet passed an order to establish it as a protected area.
Locals too have been protecting this sanctuary for a very long time. They are aware of the fact that the birds’ droppings increase the level of nitrogen content in the water which is used to irrigate their crops, increasing the yield and helping reduced the cost of fertilizers.
As many as 40,000 migratory birds, some of them endangered species, flock to this small paradise every year to nest, feed and breed. These include pintails, grey wagtails, blue-winged teals, spoon bills and the common sandpiper.
The rain-fed tank in Vedanthangal remains dry through most of the summer months beginning to fill up by August. Barringtonia trees at the peripheries of the water bodies become perching sites as well as nesting platforms.
Climatic Conditions
Vedanthangal is extremely hot and humid during the summer months from March to July, when the temperature can reach a maximum of 40 degrees C or more.
Although the bird sanctuary is open throughout the year, the best time to visit it is from November to March as this is the nesting season for most migratory birds.
One of the first winged visitors to this sanctuary is the Open billed Stork. Others who follow are Egrets, Spot billed Pelicans, Great Cormorants, Painted storks, Eurasian Spoonbills, Black-headed Ibis, Indian Cormorant, Asian Open bill, Great Egrets, Grey Heron, and Purple Heron which are seen in large numbers. Waterfowls include White Ibis, Night heron, Darter or Snakebird, Pintails, Pond herons, Comb Duck, Common teals, Shovellor, Dabchick, Black-winged Stilt, Little Stilt, Red Shank, Sand Piper, Ringed Plover, Curlew, babblers, parakeets, bee-eaters, barbets, drongos, cuckoos. Raptors include Black Winged Kite, Short-toed Eagle, Brahminy kite and Pariah Kites.
Mammals: Jungle Cat, Jackal, Wild Boar, Black-naped Hare.
