The Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary

It is the oldest bird sanctuary in India owing its creation to the bird loving people of the area. It is situated in the Kanchipuram district of Tamil Nadu (90 kilometres from Madras).As the birds were useful to them the villagers took their special care . According to the archival records towards the end of the 18th century, local villagers complained to the then Collector Lionel Place about indiscriminate shooting of the birds by British soldiers. The collector issued orders prohibiting such acts. Later The East India Company recognized the villagers’ rights and renewed the issues later in the year 1858. The lake that attracted these birds was first recognized as a sanctuary in 1936 and subsequently in 1962, it was accorded the legal status of a reserve forest under the Madras Forest Act.Ten years later, in 1972, the entire lake was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary under the Wildlife Protection Act.

Recent bird census indicates that there are more than 75,000 birds some of them include. Herons, Darters, Spoonbills, Pelicans, Sandpipers, White Ibis, Cormorants, Bullwinged teals storks, egrets, and Swans etc.

There are dry evergreen scrub and thorn forests. Boating is not allowed here so that the birds do not get disturbed during breeding. In the monsoons, rain water accumulates not only in the main lake but also in the 60 and odd ponds and adjoining paddy fields resulting in proliferation of aquatic prey for the birds - such as fish, tadpoles, frogs, water insects and snails. But in summers due to less water many migratory birds fly away with their chicks.

Best season to visit

The nesting season commences late October. The birds are through with breeding and start returning to their feeding grounds around March.  The best period to visit the sanctuary is from November to the middle of March and during early mornings or late evenings so that one can see maximum number of them.

Along with a fantastic view of birds one can also enjoy fruits, tea, cold drinks and snacks that are sold outside the Sanctuary. The Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is a beautiful place for everyone to be in.