Wetlands are one of the most important freshwater sources. They also provide various ecological services. India is extremely rich in terms of wetland diversity and is one of the few countries in the world to have a wetland inventory system. There are 42 sites in the country that have been designated as Wetlands of International Importance or Ramsar sites. Here we are trying to explore Chennai's Wetland Biodiversity...Anyone can contribute to this...
Indian Pond Heron or Paddybird (Ardeola grayii) குளத்துக் கொக்கு /குருட்டுக் கொக்கு
Indian Pond Heron spotted at Sivaram Avenue, Sivagami Nagar, Medavakkam, Chennai - 600 100 (Photo Credit U Elaya Perumal)
This heron is very commonly observed all around Tamil Nadu. In Chennai Marshland area also it is widely distributed. this heron has peculier name in Tamil as Kurrttu Kokku means Blind egret. I used to think in childhood days as this egret is blind. but it always fly away when i go near to that. so used to wonder why this name came. but i could sense that this bird got this namen because it always camouflouge with th environment and by standing still it avoid noticed by other animals. that could be the only reason it is called as" Kurruttu Kokku".
This bird is often noticed near to Annakkili Amma Research Institute (AARI), But it was surprise to see more than hundred individual Indian Pond heron birds at Medavakkam Lake (Medavakam eri). Eventhough the Lkae is not properly maintained or cleaned the lake is worth visiting for sighting some rare and colourfull birds.
Indian Pond Heron at Medavakkam eri, Medavakkam, Chennai 600 100 (Photo Credit : U Elaya Perumal)
Indian Pond Heron at Medavakkam eri, Medavakkam, Chennai 600 100 (Photo Credit : U Elaya Perumal)
Indian Pond Heron at Medavakkam eri, Medavakkam, Chennai 600 100 (Photo Credit : U Elaya Perumal)
Indian Pond Heron at Medavakkam eri, Medavakkam, Chennai 600 100 (Photo Credit : U Elaya Perumal)
Indian Pond Heron at Medavakkam eri, Medavakkam, Chennai 600 100 (Photo Credit : U Elaya Perumal)
Indian Pond Heron at Medavakkam eri, Medavakkam, Chennai 600 100 (Photo Credit : U Elaya Perumal)
Indian Pond Heron at Medavakkam eri, Medavakkam, Chennai 600 100 (Photo Credit : U Elaya Perumal)
Indian Pond Heron at Medavakkam eri, Medavakkam, Chennai 600 100 (Photo Credit : U Elaya Perumal)
Indian Pond Heron at Medavakkam eri, Medavakkam, Chennai 600 100 (Photo Credit : U Elaya Perumal)
The House sparrow (Passer domesticus) சிட்டுக்குருவி
A pair of House sparrow inside a hostel room in Pune University Photo taken in 2012 (Photo Credit U Elaya Perumal)
World Sparrow Day is celebrated on March 20 every year. It a day to raise awareness and protect the common house sparrows, which are not so commonly seen now due to increasing various pollutions. among them, noise pollution considered as the worst pollutant affecting the house sparrows.
A pair of House sparrow inside a hostel room in Pune University Photo taken in 2012
In Madipakkam Lakshmi Nagar we have noticed some House sparrows regularly late in 2020. But in Medavakkam even though we have observed Silverbill, Prinia, Sunbird, Munia, and Tailor birds, we have not noticed any House sparrow yet. our search is on we will surely find some house sparrow soon in Medavakkam Marshland too. since we don't have photo of Madipakkam sparrow we have used our stock photos from 2012.
A female House sparrow inside a hostel room in Pune University Photo taken in 2012
Here we would like to showcase the video of House sparrow from Tirunelveli District We have set up two-three sparrow houses in our home where many sparrow families are residing, often they play in our balcony and plants near the balcony... this video was taken from our balcony when they were playing...
Feed sparrows, water sparrows, and give space for sparrows in your home. this should be the motto taken on The world Sparrow day 2021... Hope everyone follows and protects sparrows from extinction...
Female House Sparrow
The house sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a bird of the sparrow family Passeridae, found in most parts of the world. It is a small bird that has a typical length of 16 cm (6.3 in) and a mass of 24–39.5 g (0.85–1.39 oz). Females and young birds are coloured pale brown and grey, and males have brighter black, white, and brown markings. One of about 25 species in the genus Passer, the house sparrow is native to most of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, and a large part of Asia. Its intentional or accidental introductions to many regions, including parts of Australasia, Africa, and the Americas, make it the most widely distributed wild bird.
A pair of House sparrow inside a hostel room in Pune University Photo taken in 2012
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Passeriformes
Family:Passeridae
Genus:Passer
Species:P. domesticus
Binomial name: Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758)
A pair of House sparrow inside a hostel room in Pune University Photo taken in 2012
Widespread and abundant in cities, neighborhoods and farms. Avoids dense woods. Flocks cluster in dense bushes, bustling around and chattering to one another. Males have smart black bibs, bright rufous napes, and stunningly patterned wings with brilliant buffs and browns. Underparts are pale pearly-gray. Females are plain brown with cute face and lighter eyebrow. Native to Eurasia; introduced to much of the rest of the world.
Female House Sparrow
A pair of House sparrow inside a hostel room in Pune University Photo taken in 2012
A pair of House sparrow inside a hostel room in Pune University Photo taken in 2012
A pair of House sparrow inside a hostel room in Pune University Photo taken in 2012
A pair of House sparrow inside a hostel room in Pune University Photo taken in 2012
A pair of House sparrow inside a hostel room in Pune University Photo taken in 2012
A pair of House sparrow inside a hostel room in Pune University Photo taken in 2012
Male House sparrow
Male House sparrow
A pair of House sparrow inside a hostel room in Pune University Photo taken in 2012
White-browed Wagtail or Large Pied Wagtail (Motacilla maderaspatensis) வெண்புருவ வாலாட்டி / வரி வாலாட்டிக் குருவி
White-browed Wagtail Photo Credit U Elaya Perumal
This bird is not a frequent visitor to the Medavakkam Marshland, since our project started we have observed less than 10 times only. the morphology is somewhat similar to Pied Bushchat but it differs from that with a large body and long tail and an iconic white colour above the eybrow. this bird continuously flips its tail up and down which is the reason behind the name Wagtail. A pair of White-browed Wagtail have been observed here near Annakkili Amma Research Institute between 6:30 am to 8:00 am.
White-browed Wagtail Photo Credit U Elaya Perumal
The white-browed wagtail or large pied wagtail (Motacilla maderaspatensis) is a medium-sized bird and is the largest member of the wagtail family. They are conspicuously patterned with black above and white below, a prominent white brow, shoulder stripe, and outer tail feathers. White-browed wagtails are native to South Asia, common near small water bodies, and have adapted to urban environments where they often nest on rooftops. The specific name is derived from the Indian city of Madras (now Chennai).
Asian Koel Black (Male), and White and Black (Female), (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
To my wonder, Asian koels are more over here. nearly ten or more Asian Koel are spotted near Annakkili Amma Research Institute (AARI). In Chennai, we used to spot one or two asian koel but here in Medavakkam Marshland it more in numbers. It is more pleasant when we hear their song in the early morning. and there is a bush of trees present near AARI, where you can find koels full day.
Asian Koel Black (Male), (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
Asian Koel Black (Male), (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
The Asian koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus) is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, the Cuculiformes. It is found in the Indian Subcontinent, China, and Southeast Asia. It forms a superspecies with the closely related black-billed koels, and Pacific koels which are sometimes treated as subspecies. The Asian koel like many of its related cuckoo kin is a brood parasite that lays its eggs in the nests of crows and other hosts, who raise its young. They are unusual among the cuckoos in being largely frugivorous as adults. The name koel is echoic in origin with several language variants. The bird is a widely used symbol in Indian and Nepali poetry.
Asian Koel Black (Male), (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
A large cuckoo, distinctive in all plumages, but usually secretive, keeping to the interior of dense trees in many habitats, even inner cities, and fields. Adult males glossy black with the dull lime-green bill; females and immatures blackish-brown with white dots on the wings and strong streaking on head and throat. Adults have ruby-red eyes. Females lay eggs in the nests of other large birds, including crows, shrikes, and starlings. The song is a loud, persistent “ko-EL!” similar to a peacock’s call.
Asian Koel Black (Male), (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
It is a brood parasite, laying eggs in nests of medium to large passerines, particularly crows and magpies (Corvidae), mynas and starlings (Sturnidae), orioles (Oriolidae), drongos (Dicruridae), laughingthrushes (Leiothrichidae), and Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach). In contrast to most brood-parasitic cuckoos, nestlings of koels and foster parents usually grow up together.
Asian Koel Black (Male), (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
The Indian Subcontinent through east China, the mainland south-east Asia, the Phillippine, and the Sundaic Islands. Also Maldives, Laccadives, Andamans and Nicobars. A rare visitor to the Middle East. Accidental Korea and Japan
Asian Koel Black (Male), (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
Both resident and breeding migrants occur in secondary forests, mangroves, swamp forests, coastal scrub, forest edges, orchards, plantations, and city parks. Recorded up to 1,800 m in the Himalayas.
Asian Koel White and Black (Female), (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
Asian Koel could potentially turn up in any habitat with trees or tall vegetation. Passage birds have been recorded in Phragmites reedbeds and hill forests.
Asian Koel White and Black (Female), (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
Based on the identification of female birds on plumage, migrant chinensis seemingly favors forests on small islands and coastal areas as they outnumber resident malayanus in such habitats in the Thai-Malay Peninsula. Also winters in the mature evergreen forest. Any areas with trees in locations absent of territory-holding resident birds can perhaps be occupied by winter visitors.
Asian Koel White and Black (Female), (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
Arboreal. Visits trees with ripe fruits. Usually skulking in dense foliage above middle story and in the canopy. Rarely comes to the ground to feed. Non-breeding visitors often inhabit the canopy of mature evergreen forests where resident birds shun.
Asian Koel White and Black (Female), (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
The hook at the tip of the upper mandible, atypical for cuckoos, is useful in plucking ripe fruits. This may also enable it to opportunistically capture small birds as does Pacific Koel. Nectar, large insects, and snails are also taken. Hops among branches in fruiting trees and takes berries one at a time. Most fruits grasped are small, but up to the size of 41 mm has been reported. Fruits are swallowed whole and large seeds are regurgitated. Females frequently consume eggs of other birds, usually as they lay their own. A total of four eggs was reported taken from a bulbul nest within only 4 seconds.
Asian Koel Black andWhite(Female), (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
Fruits of figs (Ficus), mulberries (Morus), jujubes (Zizyphus), Brazilian cherry (Eugenia uniflora), wild cherry (Prunus pseudocerasus), tamarind (Tamarindus indica), java olive tree (Sterculia foetida), large-flowered bay tree (Persea macrantha), sandalwood (Santalum), Pithecellobium dulce, guava (Psidium guajava), nuts of various palms including Chinese fan palm (Livistoma chinensis), oil palm and (Archontophoenix alexandrae), poisonous fruit of Yellow Oleander (Thevatia neriifolia), nectar of Indian coral tree (Erythrina indica), nectar and flower of bluebellvine (Clitoria ternatea), fruit and nectar of papaya (Carica papaya).
Eggs of host species and other passerines such as Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer) and Yellow-vented Bulbul (P. goiavier). Large insects, including grasshoppers, mantids, stick-insects, caterpillars. Snails are also occasionally taken.
Asian Koel Black andWhite(Female), (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
Usually vocalizing from dense cover in the canopy. In contrast with typical wintering cuckoos, Asian Koel is noisy even as non-breeding visitors, albeit less vocal, and at night. Male has a wide range of repertoire.
Both sexes give repetitive, bubbling koh-koh-koh-koh, with a falling end wuroo-wuroo-wuroo or drawn out wheeoo. The loud, strident kik-kik-kik-kik, is frequently heard given by females both in flight and when perched. Females engaged in a flight usually emit harsh chuck-chuck-chuck.
Asian Koel Black andWhite(Female), (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
Asian Koel Black andWhite(Female), (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
Asian Koel Black andWhite(Female), (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
Asian Koel Black andWhite(Female), (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
Glossy ibis feeding on Medavakkam Marshland near Annakkili Amma Research Institute (AARI) on 03/02/2021 (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
The glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) is a water bird in the order of Pelecaniformes and the ibis and spoonbill family Threskiornithidae. The scientific name derives from Ancient Greek plegados and Latin, falcis, both meaning "sickle" and referring to the distinctive shape of the bill.
Glossy ibis feeding on Medavakkam Marshland near Annakkili Amma Research Institute (AARI) on 03/02/2021 (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
Glossy ibis was frequently observed near Annakkili Amma Research Institute (AARI) between 1st to 3rd February but later it could only be seen flying through AARI. It was not observed landing near AARI after 3rd February 2021. even though the observation of this ibis here in Feb was frequent it was very rare in march, we could not the exact reason for that.. it is one of the best bird I clicked ever with full of glittering feathers and, it was a little fearless bird so that it allowed me to walk near to take the snap with my SLR camera with less zooming option.
Glossy ibis feeding on Medavakkam Marshland near Annakkili Amma Research Institute (AARI) on 03/02/2021 (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
Wetland biodiversity often disturbed by plastics and Thermocol box pieces, here also, they are present in more numbers. The water on this part of the marshland is clear and in good condition, which helps a lot of biodiversities to thrive but the disturbing part is solid wastes.
Glossy ibis landing on Medavakkam Marshland near Annakkili Amma Research Institute (AARI) on 01/02/2021 (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
இது அரிவாள் மூக்கன் குடும்பத்தைச் சார்ந்த ஒரு கரைப்பறவை (shore bird or wader) ஆகும்.
“கூவின பூங்குயில் கூவின கோழி
குருகுகள் இயம்பின இயம்பின சங்கம்
ஓவின தாரகை யொளிஒளி உதயத்து
ஒருப்படுகின்றது…………”
- (ப.திருமுறை: 8: 20: 3)
here kurugu means antril. and also many ancient tamil literature cites different type of Ibis in different names. For example pakantril பகன்றில் (meants white coloured ibis),
வெள்ளை நிற அன்றில் பகன்றில் என அழைக்கப்படும் [பகல் + அன்றில் = பகன்றில்]
திருஞானசம்பந்தர் தமது தேவாரத்தில்
“பகரத்தாரா அன்னம் பகன்றில் பாதம் பணிந்தேத்தத்
தகரப்புன்னை தாழைப் பொழில்சேர் சண்பை நகராரே”
- (ப.திருமுறை: 1: 66: 3)
எனப் பகன்றிலைக் குறிப்பிடுகிறார்.
and red headed ibis was called as senthalai antril (செந்தலை அன்றில்) - (குறுந்தொகை: 160: 1 - 4)
Black legged and black ibis was named as karunkaal antril கருங்கால் அன்றில் (குறுந்தொகை: 301: 1 - 4).
Black legged white ibis was named as "Karunkaal venkurugu" (கருங்கால் வெண்குருகு) - (குறுந்தொகை: 303 :1 - 3).
These names are good examples of the morphological classification system that was well established in the olden Tamil civilization and they are evidently available in Tamil literature.
Glossy ibis feeding on Medavakkam Marshland near Annakkili Amma Research Institute (AARI) on 01/02/2021 (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
Glossy ibises feed in very shallow water and nest in freshwater or brackish wetlands with tall dense stands of emergent vegetation such as reeds, papyrus, or rushes) and low trees or bushes. They show a preference for marshes at the margins of lakes and rivers but can also be found at lagoons, flood-plains, wet meadows, swamps, reservoirs, sewage ponds, paddies, and irrigated farmland.
Glossy ibis landing on Medavakkam Marshland near Annakkili Amma Research Institute (AARI) on 01/02/2021 (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
Ebird Description: Long, curved bill. Adults are mostly dark with iridescent green and reddish tones. The very thin white border surrounding the dark facial skin. Dark eyes. Usually gregarious, it is found mainly in salty marshes and shallow wetlands. Unmistakable in most of its range, though American birds are best distinguished from White-faced Ibis by distribution and facial pattern.
Glossy ibis feeding on Medavakkam Marshland near Annakkili Amma Research Institute (AARI) on 01/02/2021 (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
