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+Category:Protected areas established in 1994; +Category:1994 establishments in Tamil Nadu using HotCat

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{{short description|Protected area in Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{moresources|date=July 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
[[File:Bar-headed Geese (Anser indicus) at Koonthakulam Bird Sanctuary.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Bird sanctuary]]
'''Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary''' or Kunthankulam is a {{convert|1.2933|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} [[protected area]] declared as a sanctuary in 1994. It adjoins the tiny village of Koonthankulam in [[Nanguneri]] Taluk of [[Tirunelveli district]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]. It is just 38 km away from [[Tirunelveli]] (a bustling town on the banks of the [[Thamirabarani River]]). {{coord|8.58102|N|77.76123|E|}} It is composed of Koonthankulam and Kadankulam [[irrigation tank]]s, conveniently linked by tar road. This is the largest reserve for breeding water birds in [[South India]]. It is an [[Important Bird Area]], code: IN269, criteria: A1, A4i.<ref>[[BirdLife International]] [http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sites/index.html?action=SitHTMFindResults.asp&INam=Kunthangulam&Reg=-2&Cty=-2 Kunthangulam Bird Sanctuary]</ref>

==Community involvement==
This sanctuary is actively protected and managed by the Koonthankulam village community. The local people take a keen interest in protecting this sanctuary.

Birds coming to villagers' backyards are protected vehemently and regarded as harbingers of luck. The [[guano]] and silt from the tanks is collected by villagers in summer and applied as fertilizer to their fields. All villagers protect the birds, their nests and fledgelings. Fallen chicks are taken care of in the rescue centre till they are able to fly on their own. The Indian festival [[Diwali]] is not celebrated here because the sound of crackers would drive away the winged visitors.

An interpretation centre, watch tower, children's park and dormitory are open for public use throughout the year.

==Fauna==
More than 43 species of resident and migratory water birds visit here every year. More than 100,000 migratory birds start coming by December and fly away to their northern homes by June or July after they lay and hatch eggs and the young ones mature enough to fly with the older ones.

The following migratory birds visit this area from other countries.
[[File:Bar-headed Goose - St James's Park, London - Nov 2006.jpg|thumb|200px|Bar-headed goose]]
[[File:Bar-headed Geese (Anser indicus) at Koonthakulam Bird Sanctuary.jpg|thumb|200px|A flock of bar-headed geese (''Anser indicus'') at the lake in the sanctuary]]
[[File:Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) at Koonthakulam Bird Sanctuary, Tirunelveli.jpg|thumb|200px|A pair of black-winged stilts (''Himantopus himantopus'') in the foreground with bar-headed geese in the background, at the sanctuary.]]

* [[Bar-headed goose]], Siberia
* [[Common sandpiper]], Siberia
* [[Common teal]], Siberia
* [[Coot]], central Siberia
* [[Green sandpiper]], Siberia
* [[Greater flamingo]], northern India
* [[Northern pintail]], Siberia
* [[White stork]], central Asia <ref>Tamil Nadu Forest Dept.[http://www.forests.tn.nic.in/WildBiodiversity/bs_kkbs.html Koothankulam Bird Sanctuary]</ref>

== See also ==
*[[List of birds of Tamil Nadu]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.dinamalar.com/video_Inner.asp?news_id=1275&cat=32 Dinamalar video regarding Koothankulam village and bird sanctuary]
*[http://www.thebetterindia.com/3754/meet-bal-pandian-bird-man-koonthakulam/ Meet Bal Pandian: The Bird Man of Koonthakulam]
{{Bird_Sanctuaries}}
{{Protected areas of Tamil Nadu}}

[[Category:Tirunelveli district]]
[[Category:Bird sanctuaries of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1994]]
[[Category:1994 establishments in Tamil Nadu]]

Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary - Revision history

imported>BrownHairedGirl: +Category:Protected areas established in 1994; +Category:1994 establishments in Tamil Nadu using HotCat