Location
Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is located in the state district of
Tamil Nadu, Kanchipuram. The nearest city, that is Chennai, is about
85 kilometres from the sanctuary. The famous metropolitan city lies
to the north east of the sanctuary. Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
happens to be one of the best picnic spots in the proximity of
Chennai. From the city it takes less than two hours to reach this
favorite tourist destination.
Overview
Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is one of the oldest bird sanctuary in
India. Prior to the British occupation the sanctuary constituted a
small lake inhabiting thousands of resident and migratory birds.
Towards the end of the 18th century, the British officials, who were
occupying these lands then, started indiscriminate shooting of the
birds. The villagers, at that point of time strongly protested
against the shooting of the birds. Collector Lionel, as a
consequence, was forced to issue a prohibiting order. The orders and
rights of the villagers to safeguard the bird population was renewed
in the year 1858. The next milestone was achieved in the year 1936,
when the place got recognition as a sanctuary. In 1962, Madras
Forest Act legally accorded the status of a reserve forest to
Vedanthangal and ten years later the place was ascribed as a
wildlife sanctuary.
The sanctuary is spread well over 30 hectares of land. The area is
largely covered by the lake that makes up an ideal habitat for the
birds. The territory is marked by thorn forests and the adjoining
open fields. Besides the lake there are some 60 small pools and
ponds dug in the territory that get filled with the rainwater during
monsoons. The lake, pools and ponds and the nearby paddy fields are
the scenes of activities at Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary. A rough
estimation reveals the bird population to be something like 75,000
birds. These birds comprise of the 110 species that have been
recorded here.
Bird Species found in the Sanctuary
The sanctuary features thousands of birds, some of which are easily
identified. Some easily found species include Cormorants, Darter,
Grebes, Large Egret, Little Egrets, Moorhen, Night Herons, Paddy
Bird, Painted Stork, Pintails, Pond Heron, Sandpiper, Shovellers,
Terns, White Ibis, etc. 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, Spot Bill Duck Canada.
Best time to visit
The best time to pay a visit is somewhere between November and
March. During this period the birds are busy taking care of their
nests. It is advised to reach the place early in the morning or in
late afternoon.
Accessibility
The place can be reached directly by boarding a bus at Chennai
which is about 85 kms far from the place.
The nearest railway station to the sanctuary is at Chengalpattu,
which is about 30 kms far. The Southern Railways provide the service
to the Chengalpattu from the city.
Chennai Airport is the nearest airport and about 60 kms from the
sanctuary.
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