For the love of birds and a good harvest

For the villagers of Kollukudipatti, near Tiruppatur, Diwali is not a time to set off fire crackers, but to show their respect for nature and hope for a prosperous harvest.
The villagers will continue their unique tradition of celebrating Diwali without firecrackers this season as well, to protect the winged visitors at the nearby Vettangudi bird sanctuary. Nearly 200 migratory species from various countries nest here each year.
The practice holds deep cultural and agricultural significance for the local community. “If the birds don’t visit the tank, there won’t be a harvest, we believe,” says A Raman, a farmer from the village. “The arrival of the birds is a sign of a good monsoon.
This year, we expect a bountiful harvest as many birds have nested in our village pond.”
This tradition of not bursting firecrackers has been passed down through generations and the villagers are keenly aware that loud noises can scare birds away.
“We have had good rainfall this year, and the tank is full. But it has breached at two spots.
We request the public works department to repair these weak areas so we can store water for the birds and for agriculture,” said Jeyapandi, another villager. Villagers also take a proactive role in protecting the birds from potential disturbances.
“If the birds fly in circles above the village instead of roosting in their nests, it’s a sign that something is wrong — poachers or animals such as monkeys or dogs might have entered the area,” says Jeyapandi. “We chase animals away, and hand over poachers to police or forest officials.”
Nov to March marks the peak birding season, and this year has seen a significant rise in the number of nests by species such as Asian openbill and black-headed ibis. The villagers are experts at spotting the sanctuary’s avian visitors. This time they have spotted Spot-billed ducks, Jeyapandi says.