Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary - Revision history

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	'''Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary''' is a {{convert\|30\|ha\|adj=on}} protected area located in the ~~Chengalpattu District and~~ [[Madurantakam]] taluk of the state of [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]. The sanctuary is about {{Convert\|75\|km}} from [[Chennai]] on National Highway 45 ([NH45]). ~~Easily~~ reachable from [[Madurantakam]] and Chengalpattu. More than 40,000 birds (including 26 rare species), from various parts of the world visit the sanctuary during the migratory season every year.<ref name="2013season"/>		'''Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary''' is a {{convert\|30\|ha\|adj=on}} protected area located in the [[Madurantakam]] taluk of the [[Chengalpattu district\|Chengalpattu District]] in the state of [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]. The sanctuary is about {{Convert\|75\|km}} from [[Chennai]] on National Highway 45 ([NH45]). It is easily reachable from [[Madurantakam]] and Chengalpattu. More than 40,000 birds (including 26 rare species), from various parts of the world visit the sanctuary during the migratory season every year.<ref name="2013season"/>

	Vedanthangal is home to migratory birds such as [[northern pintail\|pintail]], [[garganey]], [[grey wagtail]], [[blue-winged teal]], [[common sandpiper]] and the like.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/VedanthangalByM.Krishnan/KrishnanVed#page/n9/mode/2up Vedanthangal - M.Krishnan pg.9]</ref>		Vedanthangal is home to migratory birds such as [[northern pintail\|pintail]], [[garganey]], [[grey wagtail]], [[blue-winged teal]], [[common sandpiper]] and the like.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/VedanthangalByM.Krishnan/KrishnanVed#page/n9/mode/2up Vedanthangal - M.Krishnan pg.9]</ref>
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	Several accounts of the sanctuary were published in the mid-19th century.<ref>{{cite journal\|author=Shortt, John\|year=1866\|title=Account of a heronry, and breeding-place of other water-birds, in southern India\|journal=Zoologist\|volume=1\|pages=11–16\|url=https://archive.org/stream/zoologist24lond#page/11/mode/1up/}}</ref><ref>{{cite book\|author=Hume, AO\|title=The nests and eggs of Indian Birds. Volume 3\|pages=238–239\|url=https://archive.org/stream/nestseggsofindia03humerich#page/237/mode/1up\|year=1889\|publisher=R H Porter}}</ref> In 1936, the park was notified as a [[sanctuary]], and in 1962, the Madras Forest Act legally accorded the status of a reserve forest to Vedanthangal. Ten years later, the place was declared as a [[wildlife]] sanctuary.		Several accounts of the sanctuary were published in the mid-19th century.<ref>{{cite journal\|author=Shortt, John\|year=1866\|title=Account of a heronry, and breeding-place of other water-birds, in southern India\|journal=Zoologist\|volume=1\|pages=11–16\|url=https://archive.org/stream/zoologist24lond#page/11/mode/1up/}}</ref><ref>{{cite book\|author=Hume, AO\|title=The nests and eggs of Indian Birds. Volume 3\|pages=238–239\|url=https://archive.org/stream/nestseggsofindia03humerich#page/237/mode/1up\|year=1889\|publisher=R H Porter}}</ref> In 1936, the park was notified as a [[sanctuary]], and in 1962, the Madras Forest Act legally accorded the status of a reserve forest to Vedanthangal. Ten years later, the place was declared as a [[wildlife]] sanctuary.

	In the government order dated 8 July 1988, the area was declared as 'Vedanthangal Lake Bird Sanctuary', under the [[Wildlife Protection Act of 1972]].		In 1967, a rest house was constructed for the convenience of visiting inspecting officers and tourists. In the government order dated 8 July 1988, the area was declared as the 'Vedanthangal Lake Bird Sanctuary', under the [[Wildlife Protection Act of 1972]].

	~~In 1967, a rest house was constructed for the convenience of visiting inspecting officers and tourists.~~		The area had a compact grove of more than 500 ''[[Barringtonia]]'' trees earlier. An additional 100 trees were planted in 1973 and over 1,000 trees were planted in 1996.

	The area had a compact grove of more than 500 ''[[Barringtonia]]'' trees earlier. An additional 100 trees were planted in 1973 and over 1,000 trees were planted in 1996.

	==Bird species==		==Bird species==
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	==The Lake==		==The Lake==
	The Vedanthangal lake is situated 122 m above sea level. It supplies water to 250 acres of agricultural land around the area. The west and south sides of the lake are bordered by a long bund, whereas the northern and eastern sides extend to the agricultural lands. Input of water into this lake is through four small canals. Maximum depth of the lake is 5 metres. The area receives an average annual rainfall of 1400 mm, mostly from the [[north-east monsoon]].<ref name = "WildlifeBiodiversityConservation"/>		The Vedanthangal lake is situated 122 m above sea level. It supplies water to 250 acres of agricultural land around the area. The west and south sides of the lake are bordered by a long bund, whereas the northern and eastern sides extend to the agricultural lands. Input of water into this lake is through four small canals. Maximum depth of the lake is 5 metres. The area receives an average annual rainfall of 1400 mm, mostly from the [[north-east monsoon]].<ref name = "WildlifeBiodiversityConservation"/> There is a {{convert\|24\|ft\|m\|abbr=on}} observation tower in the sanctuary.<ref>{{cite book\|title=The Top Ten Temple Towns of India\|publisher=Mark Age Publication\|first=S.C.\|last=Karkar\|location=Kolkota\|isbn=978-81-87952-12-1\|year=2009\|page=47}}</ref>

	==Flora and fauna==		==Flora and fauna==

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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| other_name =
| nickname =
| settlement_type = nature reserving sanctuary
| image_skyline = Vedanthangal Lake.JPG
| image_alt =
| image_caption = View of Vedanthangal Lake
| pushpin_map = India Tamil Nadu
| pushpin_label_position = left
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Tamil Nadu, India
| coordinates = {{coord|12|32|44|N|79|51|21|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = Chengalpattu
| established_title = Established
| established_date = 1936
| founder =
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| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
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| area_total_km2 = 0.3
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| population_density_km2 = auto
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| population_footnotes = 232
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = 
| postal_code = 236
| registration_plate =
| blank1_name_sec1 = Nearest city
| blank1_info_sec1 = [[Chennai]]
| blank2_name_sec1 = Governing body
| blank2_info_sec1 = [[Ministry of Environment and Forests]], [[Government of India]]
| website =
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}}
'''Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary''' is a {{convert|30|ha|adj=on}} protected area located in the Chengalpattu District and [[Madurantakam]] taluk of the state of [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]. The sanctuary is about {{Convert|75|km}} from [[Chennai]] on National Highway 45 ([NH45]). Easily reachable from [[Madurantakam]] and Chengalpattu. More than 40,000 birds (including 26 rare species), from various parts of the world visit the sanctuary during the migratory season every year.<ref name="2013season"/>

Vedanthangal is home to migratory birds such as [[northern pintail|pintail]], [[garganey]], [[grey wagtail]], [[blue-winged teal]], [[common sandpiper]] and the like.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/VedanthangalByM.Krishnan/KrishnanVed#page/n9/mode/2up Vedanthangal - M.Krishnan pg.9]</ref>

Vedanthangal is the oldest water bird sanctuary in the country.<ref name="2013season">{{cite news| url= http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/bird-sanctuaries-to-open-on-friday/article5361511.ece| location=Chennai | work=The Hindu | first= Madhavan | last= D | title= Bird sanctuaries to open on Friday | date=2013-11-18}}</ref><ref name="WildlifeBiodiversityConservation">{{cite book|last1=VenkatramanG|last2=Thiyagesan K|last3=Nagarajan R|author4=Jyothinayakam, J.T.|title=Wildlife Biodiversity Conservation: Proceedings of the "National Seminar on Wildlife Biodiversity Conservation", 13 to 15 October, 2006, a Seminar Conducted During the "bi-decennial Celebrations" of Pondicherry University|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vlx-ho5EvyoC&pg=PA93|date=1 January 2008|publisher=Daya Publishing House|isbn=978-81-7035-529-8|pages=93–}}</ref> Vedanthangal in Tamil language means 'hamlet of the hunter'.<ref>[https://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.13:1:9017.tamillex University of Chennai - Tamil Lexicon]</ref> This area was a favourite hunting spot of the local landlords in the early 18th century. The region attracted a variety of birds because it was dotted with small lakes that acted as feeding grounds for the birds. Realising its ornithological importance, the British government undertook steps to develop Vedanthangal into a bird sanctuary as early as 1798. This was established in 1858 by the order of the Collector of Chengalpattu.

[[File:Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary pathway.JPG|thumb|180px|The pathway in Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary.]]
The best time to visit this sanctuary is from November to March. During this time, birds are seen busy building and maintaining their nests.

Villagers near this sanctuary are very concerned about the sanctuary and its winged residents, and they have taken many serious steps to avoid disturbance to the flow of birds.

==History==

[[File:Full View of Vedanthangal bird sanctuary.jpg|thumb|left|Full View of Vedanthangal bird sanctuary.]]
[[File:Vedanthangal Landscape.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Vedanthangal Landscape]]
[[File:In a Land of their own Vedanthangal.jpg|thumb|right|180px|In a world of their own, Vedanthankal]]
The Vedanthangal lake bird sanctuary has a tradition of the people actively protecting birds coming to the area since time immemorial. The local people understood the relationship between birds and the productivity of their crops even before the concept of wildlife conservation came into vogue. They knew that the bird droppings in the water created guano which acted as fertilizer. Towards the end of the 18th century local villagers complained to the collector of [[Chengalpet Lionel Palace]], about the British soldiers shooting the birds. They demanded and obtained a '[[Cowle]]' from the collector (Mr Place, Collector of Chingleput 1796-1798<ref>{{cite book|author=Bates, RSP|year=1931|title=Birdlife in India|publisher=Bombay Natural History Society|url=https://archive.org/stream/BirdLifeIndia/BirdlifeIndia#page/n50/mode/1up}}</ref>) to protect the birds. In 1936 the collector officially recognized the lake as a sanctuary. In 1962 it was given the legal status of reserved forest under the [[Madras Forest Act]].

Several accounts of the sanctuary were published in the mid-19th century.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Shortt, John|year=1866|title=Account of a heronry, and breeding-place of other water-birds, in southern India|journal=Zoologist|volume=1|pages=11–16|url=https://archive.org/stream/zoologist24lond#page/11/mode/1up/}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Hume, AO|title=The nests and eggs of Indian Birds. Volume 3|pages=238–239|url=https://archive.org/stream/nestseggsofindia03humerich#page/237/mode/1up|year=1889|publisher=R H Porter}}</ref> In 1936, the park was notified as a [[sanctuary]], and in 1962, the Madras Forest Act legally accorded the status of a reserve forest to Vedanthangal. Ten years later, the place was declared as a [[wildlife]] sanctuary.

In the government order dated 8 July 1988, the area was declared as 'Vedanthangal Lake Bird Sanctuary', under the [[Wildlife Protection Act of 1972]].

In 1967, a rest house was constructed for the convenience of visiting inspecting officers and tourists.

The area had a compact grove of more than 500 ''[[Barringtonia]]'' trees earlier. An additional 100 trees were planted in 1973 and over 1,000 trees were planted in 1996.

==Bird species==
[[File:Vedanthangal bird sanctuary Watch Tower.jpg|thumb|left|Vedanthangal bird sanctuary Watch Tower.]]

The Vedanthangal Lake Bird Sanctuary features thousands of birds coming from various countries, some of which can be easily identified. Some easily found birds include [[cormorant]]s, [[darter]]s, [[grebe]]s, [[large egret]]s, [[little egret]]s, [[moorhen]]s, [[night heron]]s, paddy birds, [[painted stork]]s, [[Northern pintail|pintails]], [[pond heron]]s, [[sandpiper]]s, [[shoveller]]s, [[tern]]s, [[Black-headed ibis|white ibis]]es and many more. The migratory birds include [[garganey]]s and [[Blue-winged teal|teals]] from [[Canada]]; [[snake bird]]s and [[glossy ibis]]es from [[Sri Lanka]]; [[grey pelican]]s from [[Australia]]; [[grey heron]]s and [[Asian openbill|openbilled stork]] from [[Bangladesh]]; [[painted stork]]s from [[Siberia]]; [[spoonbill]]s from [[Burma]] and the [[Indian spot-billed duck]]. It is a good tourist spot.

{{multiple image
| align = left
| direction = horizontal
| header =
| header_align =
| header_background =
| footer = Vedanthangal birds during season
| footer_align = center 
| footer_background =
| width =
| background color =
| image1 = Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary - Evening.JPG
| width1 = 200
| alt1 =
| image2 = Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary at season.JPG
| width2 = 200
| alt2 =
| image3 = Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary.jpg
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| alt3 =
| image4 = Painted Stork at Vedanthangal, Chennai.jpg
| width4 = 170
| alt4 =
}}

==Location==
[[File:Vedanthangal bird sanctuary entrance.jpg|thumb|180px|Entrance]]
[[File:Vedanthangal Stork Breeding.jpg|thumb|180px|Pelicans nesting and breeding]]

==The Lake==
The Vedanthangal lake is situated 122 m above sea level. It supplies water to 250 acres of agricultural land around the area. The west and south sides of the lake are bordered by a long bund, whereas the northern and eastern sides extend to the agricultural lands. Input of water into this lake is through four small canals. Maximum depth of the lake is 5 metres. The area receives an average annual rainfall of 1400 mm, mostly from the [[north-east monsoon]].<ref name = "WildlifeBiodiversityConservation"/>

==Flora and fauna==
[[File:Pelican flight.jpg|thumb|Pelican flight]]
'''Flora:''' ''[[Barringtonia acutangula]]'', ''[[Acacia nilotica]],'' and ''Alangium salviflorum'' trees and dry evergreen scrub and thorn forests.

'''Fauna:''' monkeys and other common mammals can be spotted.

'''Birds:''' garganey, teal, glossy ibis, grey heron, grey pelican, open-billed stork, painted stork, snake bird, spoonbill, spot bill duck, cormorants, darter, grebes, large egret, little egrets, moorhen, night herons, paddy bird, painted stork, pintails, pond heron, sandpiper, shovellers, terns, white ibis. They migrate from Europe during November and December to escape the frost that sets in.
{{Clear}}

{{Panorama
|image = File:Panorama of Vedanthangal 1.jpg|
|height = 480
|caption = Panoramic view of Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
}}
Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary

==List of birds==
The breeding waterbirds found at the Vedanthangal bird sanctuary are:<ref>Santharam, V. and R. K. G. Menon. 1991. [https://archive.org/stream/NLBW31_1112#page/n8/mode/1up Some observations on the water-bird populations of the Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary]. Newsletter for Birdwatchers 31 (11-12): 6-8</ref>
* Grey Pelican ''[[Pelecanus philippensis]]''
* Large Cormorant ''[[Phalacrocorax carbo]]''
* Indian Shag ''[[Phalacrocorax fuscicollis]]''
* Little Cormorant ''[[Microcarbo niger]]''
* Darter ''[[Anhinga rufa]]''
* Grey Heron ''[[Ardea cinerea]]''
* Large Egret ''[[Ardea alba]]''
* Smaller (Median) Egret ''[[Egretta intermedia]]''
* Little Egret ''[[Egretta garzetta]]''
* Night Heron ''[[Nycticorax nycticorax]]''
* Openbilled Stork ''[[Anastomus oscitans]]''
* Black-headed Ibis ''[[Threskiornis melanocephalus]]''
* Spoonbill ''[[Platalea leucorodia]]''
<gallery>
File:Vedanthangal 4 birds.jpg|Grey pelican, painted stork, little egret and open-billed stork
File:Indian Pond Heron, Vedantangal Bird Sanctuary.jpg|Indian pond heron
File:Black Headed Ibis, Vedantangal Bird Sanctuary.jpg|Black headed ibis
File:Indian Golden Oriole, Vedantangal Bird Sanctuary.jpg|Golden oriole
File:Asian openbill stork, Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary.jpg|Openbilled stork
File:Male and female parakeet 1.jpg|Male and female parakeet
File:Spot billed duck after swim 1.jpg|Spot billed duck
File:Darter and Ibis on a race 1.jpg|Darter and ibis
File:Pond Heron and its reflection 1.jpg|Pond heron and its reflection
File:Egrets on a island 1.jpg|Egret landing on an island
</gallery>

==Conservation==
[[File:Green and Green.jpg|thumb|Green pathway]]
Several steps have been taken by the Government of Tamil Nadu to protect the area. Water channels have been built by the [[Public Works Department]] to facilitate water supply to the sanctuary from neighbouring lakes.<ref name ="2013season"/>

In 2013, two lakh Barringtonia saplings were planted in the sanctuary to allow birds to nest. The Vedanthangal lake was also desilted and deepened to hold more water.<ref name ="2013season"/>

<gallery>
File:Full View of Vedanthangal bird sanctuary.jpg|Full View of Vedanthangal bird sanctuary
File:Vedanthangal bird sanctuary Entrance.jpg|Vedanthangal bird sanctuary Entrance
File:Full View of Vedanthangal bird sanctuary from Watch Tower.jpg|Full View of Vedanthangal bird sanctuary from Watch Tower
</gallery>

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

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary|position=left}}

{{Protected areas of Tamil Nadu}}
{{Eastern Ghats}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Bird sanctuaries of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Important Bird Areas of India]]
[[Category:Coromandel Coast]]
[[Category:Eastern Ghats]]
[[Category:South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1936]]
[[Category:1936 establishments in India]]