Flamingos from Gujarat enjoy their stay at Pallikaranai wetlands

According to bird watchers, the flamingos come from Rann of Kutch, a seasonal salt marsh land located in Kutch district of Gujarat. Flamingos prefer shallow water. As there was no proper rain in Chennai region this monsoon season, the wetlands has become murky and muddy.

KVRK Thirunaranan, a bird watcher and founder of The Nature Trust, said, “Very less number of flamingos visited the marshland last year. However, the forest department cleaned up the area and there was a gradual increase in the number of birds. In 2008, we had recorded only one flamingo. Now, more migratory birds are inhabiting the wetlands.” Vijayakumar, secretary, Madras Naturalists Society, said that two years ago, they had recorded around 950 such birds. “With the forest department taking measures to protect Pallikaranai wetlands from encroachers, the area will attract thousands of flamingos in the coming years,” he added.

When contacted, Ashokan, District Forest Officer (DFO), Chennai, told DTNext that they were monitoring the birds. “The wetlands, which has low water level, will attract more birds like flamingos in the coming days,” he said. 

Many wildlife photographers enter the wetlands to capture the flamingos in all their splendour on the site. The forest officials need to keep an eye on this so that bird lovers and public can have a glimpse of migratory birds as well.