Rare white stork flies into Tamil Nadu after 7 years

CHENNAI: Birdwatchers in the state are an excited bunch these days. Not only have they spotted a European white stork in Perumbakkam off Old Mahabalipuram Road, a rare sighting of a species that migrates from Europe to tropical wetlands in the winter, but report that other migratory birds, like the pheasant-tailed jacana, the black-headed ibis and spotbilled pelican, have also arrived in the state.

The storks arrived for the last time eight years ago and have returned only this year, say bird lovers. “The Perumbakkam wetland holds promise as a place that is bound to be attractive for migratory birds,” said Nature Trust founder K V R K Thirunaranan, who sighted the white stork early Saturday morning. The wading bird, with a long neck, long bare red legs and a straight pointed bill, was last sighted at Point Calimere in 2007. “We spotted 45 birds in 2007,” said K Balachandran of Bombay Naturalist History Society.

Perumbakkam is one of the few surviving wetlands in the region and several birdwatchers throng the spot during the migratory season every year.

Other birds spotted there are the garganey, a small dabbling duck, the osprey, a fish-eating bird of prey, the grey-headed lapwing, the wood sandpiper and pied avocet. Off Perumbakkam Main Road, a huge flock of pheasant-tailed jacana covers one part of the marsh. A few birdwatchers watch as openbill storks and cormorants, with their distinctive peaked heads, search for food between the grass. The black-headed white ibis and spotbilled pelican have also arrived. Nature Trust recorded 136 species in Perumbakkam last year.

The presence of breeding birds like Indian moorhen and common coot indicate the habitat is healthy and that they have abundant food, environmentalists say. But a mud road recently laid along the wetland is a cause for concern. Birdwatchers say if waste is dumped along the road, migratory birds may stop visiting.