As visiting period nears end, migratory birds extend stay

Bird watchers claim that they spotted rare birds like bar-tailed godwits and grey-tailed tattlers near water bodies in the suburbs. Forest officials said that the endangered species of birds must have stayed back because of threats in their home countries.

According to bird watchers, the migratory bird season usually falls between September and April every year. Once the season ends, thousands of migratory birds that visit the Chennai region return to their home countries. 

KVRK Thirunaranan, a bird watcher and founder of The Nature Trust said, “On a regular field visit to Pulicat bird sanctuary, we usually see birds like sandpiper. But when we visited the spot recently, we observed grey-tailed tattlers and bar-tailed godwits. Both are rare species of birds.”

He added, “Grey-tailed tattler breeds in the Siberian region and spends the winter in South China, Southeast Asia, some of Pacific Islands and Australia”. 

Another bird watcher Gowthaman Ganesan, said, “According to International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the population of these two species has been declining across the world. Under such circumstances, we are delighted to see more of them here.”

Meanwhile, forest officials said that they were monitoring all the birds that frequent waterbodies and sanctuaries in the city region. 

Speaking to DT Next, wildlife warden K Geethanjali said, “The fact remains that still thousands of migratory birds are staying longer than usual in Chennai region and the forest department is ensuring to protect all the species”.

She explained that even rare species like Grey-tailed Tattlers still preferred ecology system in Chennai and it bore testimony to the fact that Chennai region had become a comfortable place for birds.