Flamingo Festival 2010

A one day FLAMINGO FESTIVAL was conducted by AP govt on 7th mar 2010.
News from various regional papers.

Disclamar : Information from sakshi,Andhrajyothy,eenadu.

Hindu Published about 'Birds of pulicat lake' - February 5, 2010

Birds of Pulicat Lake” is another feather in ecologist P. J. Sanjeeva Raj's cap
Restoration ecologist P.J. Sanjeeva Raj has melded academics with activism. Head of the zoology department at Madras Christian College from the 1960s to the 1980s, he turned the Pulicat lake into a field of experiment.

He has led many initiatives to protect the ecological balance of this lagoon, second largest in the country; his magnum opus is the Estuarine Biological Laboratory built at Pulicat Town in 1969.
Eighty-three-year-old Raj's interest in the region has not waned. Still an authority on the lake, he volunteers information about it. He continues to foster eco-awareness among residents and is the founder of the Pulicat Lake Bird Lovers' Society (PLBLS), a voluntary organisation that aids and provokes research on the bird life.

Local partnership

The Society is not shut up in an intellectual ivory tower, but partners with the locals in protecting Pulicat birds. It organises excursions and functions as a window to Pulicat's rich biodiversity. For its supportive role at the Flamingo Festival (an annual attraction at Sullurpet), PLBLS won the ‘Best Society Award' for four years on the trot (2004 to 2007).

Drawing upon his knowledge gained by a continuous observation of the lake, he has now written Birds Of Pulicat Lake. Meant to be a quick guide to bird-watching in Pulicat, he collaborated with Odd W. Jacobsen, associate professor in animal ecology at Bergen University College, Norway, for the book.

Raj underlines the importance of the neighbouring freshwater Nellapattu Sanctuary in the book. “The Pulicat and Nellapattu sanctuaries complement each other. The Pulicat lake with brackish water serves as a feeding habitat; Nellapattu is breeding ground for these birds.”
Together, these sanctuaries support seven threatened species of birds — spot-billed pelican, painted stork, white ibis, darter, lesser flamingo, marbled teal and black-bellied tern.
For Raj, a peek into the fascinating world of birds can make youngsters sensitive to the issues of global ecology. Birds have scant regard for national boundaries; they bring out the common thread running through Nature.

From China to Venadu “The bar-headed goose breeds in the lakes of Tibet, Ladakh and China, but leaves high altitudes in the winter months. Flying high over the Himalayas at an altitude of 33,000 feet, in the jet stream, the bird travels towards Pulicat. It can be seen foraging in the paddy fields on Venadu Island in the South and Moolah village in the North.”
Raj says the case of the spot-billed pelican emphasises how even salutary human action can negatively impact Nature.

"At one time, these squat birds were found in millions in south and south-east Asia. Indiscriminate use of DDT, especially in south-east Asia, during the Green Revolution after World War II led to these birds laying thin-shelled eggs. Naturally, their numbers dwindled alarmingly. The subsequent blue revolution (aquaculture on a mass scale) in the region left the bird with no trees to nest and breed. A remnant of the spot-billed pelicans in south-east Asia escaped to Assam and South India. The pelican population in South India is now picking up."
Raj says Pulicat and Nelapattu sanctuaries have contributed immensely to the protection of this pelican. “Located close to a rocket-launching station, these twin sanctuaries have few parallels in the world. They illustrate that, when planned, development can go hand in hand with Nature.” For details about the book, call 26185188.

PLBLS In News !!

Local news paper EENADU(12-01-10) Published about PLBLS conservational activities and its importance in promoting the eco-tourism of pulicat lake !!
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Training Program conducted !!!

Students attended Training !!


Bubesh Explaning about Life cycle !!

venkatesh Explaining about role of students In conserving environment !!

As part of Environment conservation and awareness programs PLBLS conduted seminar on " Bio- deversity and Importance of pulicat lake " on 20-08-09 for 60 graduate students. Resident Naturalist Mr.Bubesh Gupta , Explanined about Bio- Diversity, Migratory birds of pulicat lake, Importance of Environment. He spoke about snakes specially - Myths about snakes , How to avoid snake bite and all. I ( Venkatesh K) explained about role of PLBLS in conserving enviroment, Achivements, Programs and future actvities . Students are very enthusiastic , at end students are awarded with partcipitation certificates.

Venkatesh K

BIRDS OF PULICAT LAKE book is for sale !!

Friends,

This book is a result of study which was done thriugh the years 1999-2004 to present the checklist of wintering wetland birds and their numbers in northen part of the pulicat lake. Based upon this information , Management inplications to preserve the avian biodiversity in this wetland ecosystem was discussed.

This book can be used as a checklist for all bird watchers and reserchers.

You can send DD/Cheque in favour of 'PULICAT LAKE BIRD LOVERS SOCIETY'payable at Sullurpeta.

To,
PULICAT LAKE BIRD LOVERS SOCIETY,
D-No:11-25a, Rajaka Street, Sullurpet - 524121.
Nellore dt, Andhra pradesh , India !!

Book cost is Rs.100/- + postage Rs.35.
Outstation cheques should add Rs.20/- more , Price is for india post only.
For abroad pls write to pulicatlake@gmail.com

Collected money will goes to "Enivironmental Awareness Programs " conducted by PLBLS.

Hurry up few books available !!

Nelapattu Bird sanctuary - Pelican paradise !!!

By Road:100-km From Chennai,
70 Km from Nellore
Nearest Railway station : Sullurpeta
In doravaristram Local trains will stop.
Nearest Airport : Chennai

Nelapattu Bird sanctuary (NBS) is located in Nelappatu village,Near to doravari satram.
It is located on the East Coast about 10-km north of Pulicat in the Nellore district. The NBS is one of the largest and important pelican habitats in Southeast Asia. Where you can see the birds in few meters away (Approximately 10-15 mts) .NBS is a breeding ground for Spoted Billed Pelican(nealry thretened), Open-Billed Stork, Little Cormorant, White-Ibis and Night Heron others ducks. It is a small fresh water irrigation tank with Barringtonia Acutangula trees spread in the water, which will be used by birds for nesting. It is a good place to see diverse species of waders and water birds. The reserve forest area has mammals like jackals, slender loris and spotted deer and reptiles like snakes and monitor lizards. Nelapattu has an environmental education centre, museum, library and an auditorium with audio-visual equipment.It is well connected by buses.

Accommodation and facilities: In Doravari satram there is a AP tourism Hotel and in sullurpeta you will find lot good lodges and hotels for stay.

Book on Pulicat lake !!!

Dear All,

Pulicat Lake Bird Lovers Society(PLBLS) published its first book on pulicat lake.The book name is "Birds Of Pulicat lake" .This book was a result of study done during the period 1999-2003.The authors for this book was Dr.O.W.Jacobsen and Dr.P.J.Sanjeevaraj.

The snap shots of the book will be published soon on this blog

Venkatesh K

Pics From Pulicat Lake !!!

white ibis and OpenBilled stork !!!


Fisher men in pulicat lake!!




Pelicans in nelapattu bird sanctuary, Sulurpeta,nellore.AP



Painted storks and egrets in Pulicat lake !!

About Pulicat Lake

One of the most beautiful and spectacular wetland areas in South India is the lagoon Pulicat Lake situated on the border between the states Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Pulicat Lake is the second largest brackish lagoon on the Indian subcontinent, covering a total area of 461 square km. The lake is shallow with a mean depth of only 1 – 2 metre. During the monsoon period starting in August or September, Pulicat Lake is filled by nutritious water and large numbers of both phytoplankton and zooplankton are present in the lake. These microscopic organisms constitute essential food for invertebrates and fish. As a result, tens of thousands of wetland birds are attracted to the lake because of large amounts of food.

Pic : Painted Stork

About 60 different species of wetland birds have been observed, and many of them come from Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ducks and geese, storks and ibises, pelicans and cormorants, herons and egrets, gallinules and different species of wading birds. Some of the commonest wetland birds include Shoveler, Garganey, Gadwall, Marsh Sandpiper and Black-tailed Godvit. In addition, resident birds such as Grey Pelican and Open-billed Stork are present. The beautiful Painted Stork is one of the most striking inhabitants of the lakeshore. This elegant bird with its pale red face and long and yellow curved beak is not that shy and can be easily approached when it walks in shallow water searching for prey with parts of its beak submerged half-open. The most spectacular sight in Pulicat Lake during the winter period is undoubtedly the huge numbers of flamingos, one of the most bizarre and outrageous birds to inhabit the earth.

Pic: fisherman in pulicat lake
Two species of flamingos occur in Pulicat Lake during the winter season, namely the Greater Flamingo and the Lesser Flamingo. Flamingos are dependent on shallow water to feed upon algae, diatoms or invertebrates. Pulicat Lake is the most important wintering area for flamingos in Asia, probably because this lake contains food items enough to maintain a population of about 15.000 individuals. To see thousands of flamingos taking flight and moving from one site to another is one of the greatest wildlife spectacles. The most important breeding area for flamingos wintering in Pulicat Lake is probably Great Rann of Kutch in the state of Gujarat.

Many wetland birds wintering in Pulicat Lake show a variety of migratory behaviour. Some birds breeding in the temperate regions such as ducks and waders undertake long distance annual migrations, whereas birds nesting in subtropical regions undertake short distance movements. Since pressure to “develop” the world’s wetland resources increases, information from migration is important in order to protect and conserve different bird populations.

Pic:Birds in lake

Many of the wetland birds arriving in Pulicat Lake usually come to this area year after year. This pattern is termed “site fidelity”, and this is an important feature of waterfowl migration. In many ducks, for example, the tendency for adult females to return to the natal area to breed, and for the male to disperse more widely in search of a mate, is well documented. Migratory waterfowl such as flamingos may also be highly traditional in their selection of staging areas and wintering sites, and Pulicat Lake must provide a good example in that way.

The timing of both short and long distance movements from Pulicat Lake and other wetlands is influenced primarily by changes in climate and the availability of food. Some of the ducks wintering in Pulicat Lake, for example Shoveler and Gadwall, have innate rhythms of migratory restlessness which are dependent upon the length of day. Several studies have shown that the length of day and increasing temperature are stimulus triggering the onset of the migration in a number of species. In February and March, the daily temperatures are increasing considerably and the water level is decreasing in the lake. As a result, many of the migrant birds do disappear from the wintering grounds and go to the nesting areas far north for breeding purposes.


Pic : Pelican

Pulicat Lake is an example of a wetland where different purposes (e.g. feeding, breeding, resting etc.) for birds are taking place. Unfortunately, wetlands in many parts of the world continue to be lost, degraded and threatened, resulting in enormous pressures on wetland birds and other wetland biodiversity. As human influences on the earth increase, these pressures will continue to grow. Since Pulicat Lake also is facing environmental problems, such as siltation and over-fishing, it is strictly recommended to implement conservation programme for a sustainable development in this unique ecosystem. Research has to be done, and it is also important to inform people about the values of this unique ecosystem. In 2003, the Society Pulicat Lake Bird Lovers Society (PLBLS) was established in Sullurpet Town. The establishment of this Society is important because it is focusing about how to protect the biodiversity and also to educate people about nature conservation. Only wise and sustainable use of Pulicat Lake is essential because of its wonderful biodiversity and fundamental social and economic importance.

Article by:odd.w.Jacobsen,Ornithologist,Norway