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 Thanks to the Madras
Naturalists’ Society (which I joined last month) a band of 17 of us went to Point
Calimere. For a taste of the wild, the sweet calls of invisible birds and glimpses of the
elusive black buck.
Taking a train to Thiruturaipoondi (no
sleeper, so we were up all night in our Tower of Babel) then a rickety bus to the Point,
we ended up at a lodge with a snarling stone lion on the compound wall welcoming us.
 After lunch, we set out to Poonaarai Illam
(Flamingo House - `This building is likely to fall anytime’ – notice stuck at
the entrance by the Nagai wildlife warden) to buy tickets to enter the sanctuary.
Trudging under the bright noon Sun, we
waded through slushy, swampy and mucky parts (a week after a heavy bout of rainfall, it
had not dried) we spotted a lone wild boar and then black buck far away.
 All along the walk, the veterans gave out
names of birds (from their calls) and when some of them deigned to fly over us or settle
on distant branches. The regulars were all there - Blue Jay, Egret – Large, small and
little, Myna, Drongo, brahmini Kite, Pariah Kite (they don't seem to have casteist
problems there!). In addition are the winters visitors - Curlew, brown headed gull,
flamingo, black-tailed godwit, whiskered tern, blue tailed bee eater, red shank, little
stint, painted stork – names floated (to us vague poetic types, a bird is a bird is a
bird!).
The sanctuary is vast, mostly shrub-land,
shaped by the violent monsoon winds and treated mercilessly by feral cattle, horses and
the graceful buck. All of 18 sq.km.. 203 species of birds have been listed on the notice
board while we spotted about 45.
What a life - happily gazing at peculiar leaves or
bright insects and stopping to admire an artistic leaf or a bright hued blossom, the dreamy blue
sky and thesoft cottony clouds, basking in the
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soothing tranquility (just
marred by our steps) and the sounds of a lone bird – we walked tall. How blessed were
our pagan forefathers?
Shhh! Blackj buck – suddenly all our efforts were rewarded when we saw a herd of
nearly 250 deer – oh, so far away. While we were still gushing away, they took
flight.
 Walking on protesting legs,
about 7 kms. along the shore, we were in for a treat - dolphins!!! It seems these
creatures (Ongil in tamil) are natives of the place. Swimming nonchalantly, close
to the shore, ducking from fish boats, they seem to oblige their audience. If not with
antics, then just raising their heads every few seconds.
The next afternoon, it was time to venture
into less-tread territory deep into thick woods – for a peek of the winged ones, near
Rama’s Feet (they looked so small, it was more like Rama Jr.’s). Enveloped in
the lap of nature, we went for a long walk, enjoying the `bliss of solitude’. After
about 4 kms., we had to cut short our trail - dark, looming clouds were threatening to
drench the earth.
 The last day, we were up early and trooped into Poonarai Illam for
the bird-banding camp which the BNHS (Bombay Natural History Society) was
organising. A
metal ring with a number and details is attached to each bird so their movements can be
monitored and other data collected. Wing span and weight are also recorded.
After this, we decided to return to dear
ole Chennai. Back to noise and grime, crowds and rush. Even as we were halfway on the
highway, there was a traffic jam.....a tipper had overturned blocking the road......
PC is well-connected by train and road from
Chennai and other districts. Its roughly 460 kms. from Chennai and is close to Nagai
district and the little town has decent boarding and lodging facilities.
The Madras Naturalists Society has about
500 members from around the world. On the web, it can be logged on at www.dmiactive.com/mns
By Padma Subiah
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