It’s party time at the bird sanctuary on the Vedaranyam coast in Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu. Thousands of colourful migratory birds land here between October and March every year. Chemplast Sanmar, which has its salt works at Vedaranyam, partnered the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) in setting up a study centre at Kodiakarai. The BNHS-Sanmar centre is a boon for bird watchers who gather to watch migratory birds from across the globe swarming the swamps of Vedaranyam, thanks to the onset of the northeast monsoon.
The centre spread across two-and-a-half acres of land purchased by BNHS is the first of its kind in the country. The sanctuary is bestowed with varied wild life including Greater Flamingo from Rann of Kutch, Grey Pelican from Iran and Iraq, Lesser Flamingo and Grey Heron from Russia, Red and Green Shank from Siberia, Little Stint, Curlew and Sand Piper from Australia, Lesser Sand Plover and Painted Stork from Mongolia,
Caspian Tern from Caspian, Little Tern from Arctic Ocean, Marsh Sand Pipers from Siberia, Pintail Duck, Gorcony and Plovers from Siberia, Large Egret from Pakistan, and Brown Headed Gull and Black Headed Gull from Mongolia.
The sight of the migratory birds thronging the salt works of Vedaranyam is a rare visual treat indeed!