Chennai Wetland's Biodiversity: Pond heron

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.