City’s secret spots turn safe haven for migratory birds

Chennai: Major wetlands such as Pallikaranai or the oldest birds' sanctuary in Vedanthangal often steal the spotlight during migratory bird season, but lesser-known spots are emerging as vital breeding and roosting havens.Otteri Lake within Arignar Anna Zoological Park at Vandalur, tall tree clusters on Sri Ramachandra Medical College (SRMC) campus at Porur, and the expansive tank at Melmaruvathur are quietly buzzing with avian activity. While SRMC remains off-limits to the public, the other two sites welcome visitors eager to witness the spectacle.At Otteri Lake, zoo authorities report at least half a dozen species arriving early to scout nesting sites, including egrets, grey herons, and open-billed storks. Painted storks, cormorants, and spoonbills are expected by next month, swelling the average seasonal count to 3,500 birds. Successful breeders here include Asian open-billed storks, spoonbills, white ibis, grey herons, pond herons, large egrets, and darters. Spot-billed pelicans come to the lake at Vandalur, but they do not breed here, says a senior official of the park.Painted storks, the latecomers in Jan, often linger until April, their stay tied to water levels of the lake, which drew more than 5,000 birds post-monsoon revival efforts.The Melmaruvathur tank has hosted migratory arrivals for more than a decade, with numbers steadily climbing from modest beginnings. Local monitor P Mohanraj says that after alerting Melmaruvathur Trust, management invested in small iron platforms in 2013 for roosting and nesting inspired by out-of-state sanctuaries, thanks to trustee G B Anbazhagan.These hidden refuges highlight Chennai's urban biodiversity resilience amid challenges such as urbanization and water scarcity. Zoo initiatives such as desilting Otteri Lake, have restored habitats. Community efforts at Melmaruvathur underscore how targeted support can turn tanks into thriving nurseries. As winter peaks from Nov to March, these spots offer birdwatchers intimate glimpses of the varied flocks.