Migratory birds arrive at Vellode Bird Sanctuary

Migratory birds have begun arriving at the Vellode Bird Sanctuary at Vadamugam Vellode, located 12 km from Erode, as it serves as a breeding ground for both resident and migratory birds.

Spread across 77.185 hectares, the sanctuary is built around the Periyakulam lake and has been designated a protected Ramsar site since 2022. Seepage from the Lower Bhavani Project (LBP) canal and rainwater are the main sources of water during the migration period, which lasts from November to March each year.

In the current season, bird species recorded were Northern pintail, Northern Shoveler, Garganey, Blue tailed bee-eater, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Chestnut tailed starling, Blyth’s warbler, Skyes warbler, Clamorous reed warbler and Booted warbler. The Northern Shoveler, a migratory duck known for its shovel-shaped bill, and the Bar-headed Goose, migrate at extreme altitudes of over 15,000 feet. The sanctuary provides an ideal habitat due to the abundance of fish in the tank, nearby agricultural fields for foraging, and ample trees for perching and nesting.

Dr. Nicola Goodship, an ornithologist, and her husband David Bull, an archaeologist, from Scotland in the United Kingdom, visited the sanctuary on Monday and observed the birds.

Maintained by the Erode Forest Division, the sanctuary has undergone several development works that have given it a major facelift, attracting more visitors. On weekdays, over 200 people visit the sanctuary, while the number rises to 700–800 on weekends. In addition, 2,800 school students from Coimbatore, Tiruppur, and Erode districts have visited the sanctuary, where they were educated about bird habitats and environmental conservation.

The Forest Department has created perching stands for birds, planted saplings, installed handrails, developed photo spots, fenced the boundary, and is in the process of planting native species and removing invasive plants from the tank.

The sanctuary is one of the 10 critical breeding habitats for wetland birds in the State, and the number of birds is expected to increase in the coming days.

Erode District Forest Officer K.V. Appala Naidu told The Hindu the exact number of birds will be known only after the wetland bird survey, scheduled for December 27 and 28. The survey will be conducted at 21 locations across the district.