Winter tourism boost: Migratory birds transform Chennai’s wetlands into a nature haven

Chennai: Otteri Lake in Vandalur, the expansive Melmaruvathur tank, and the tall tree clusters within the Sri Ramachandra Medical College (SRMC) campus in Porur are fast becoming this season’s busiest roosting and breeding sites for migratory birds in Tamil Nadu.

While public access to the SRMC campus remains restricted, Otteri Lake and Melmaruvathur tank are seeing a steady stream of visitors eager to witness flocks settling in for the winter.

At Otteri Lake inside the Arignar Anna Zoological Park, officials say the migratory season has begun early this year. Grey herons, egrets and Asian open-billed storks have already arrived to survey nesting spaces. They will soon be joined by painted storks, spoonbills and cormorants, taking the total count to around 3,500 birds during peak winter.

The lake supports the successful breeding of several species, including spoonbills, open-billed storks, white ibis, grey herons, large egrets, pond herons and darters. Spot-billed pelicans visit the lake frequently but do not nest here, a senior park official noted.

Painted storks, usually latecomers arriving in January, keep the migratory season active until April. Their numbers depend heavily on water availability, and this year’s desilting and restoration works have ensured sustained water levels, attracting more than 5,000 birds following the monsoon.

Further south, the Melmaruvathur tank has steadily evolved into a reliable winter haven for migratory birds for over a decade. Bird watchers point to 2013 as a turning point, when the Melmaruvathur Trust installed iron nesting and roosting platforms modelled on other well-known bird sanctuaries. The initiative, led by trustee GB Anbazhagan, transformed the tank from a temporary stopover into a flourishing seasonal habitat.

Meanwhile, the SRMC campus in Porur continues to support large congregations on its towering trees, though viewing remains limited to researchers and staff due to entry restrictions.

These emerging hotspots highlight the increasing ecological value of scattered wetlands and water bodies across the Chennai region. With urbanisation reducing traditional habitats, the success of such alternative sites demonstrates how targeted conservation, supported by community and institutional involvement, can create resilient sanctuaries for migratory species.

As the peak season unfolds between November and March, these quiet refuges remain vital lifelines within the city’s expanding biodiversity network.

IANS