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 A
final drive through a bumpy meandering road and
you’re at the Vedanthangal bird sanctuary, 85 kms from good ole
Chennai. Cows graze
happily in the fields as you race past the roadside villages. Occasionally a stray dog or
a chicken runs across the road making you jump. But finally you’re at your
destination safe and sound.
A
loud whirring of wings greets you as you step inside the sanctuary. The birds are on a
customary flight to nowhere in particular, simply skimming over the lake or
pres enting a
proud display of their majestic plumes to the awe-struck visitors. Winged creatures
resplendent in an assortment of shapes and sizes are nestling in the undergrowth and on
the bushes abounding beside the lake.
From time to time they let out a quaint welcoming babble (at least
it sounds like that to the untrained ears). A grey heron dives into the lake and comes out
victorious with a fish dangling from its beak.  Even from across the waters you can clearly
see it relishing its food, as it contentedly drifts on the cool but dirty waters.
Want to have a closer look? Then climb up the watchtower
and peer through the stationed binoculars there, but only for a minute or too. There is
already a long string of people waiting their turn behind you and the watchman on duty
hurries you up.
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If you happen to possess your own pair of binoculars, then it’s a
treat to watch the diving, skimming birds at close quarters and to capture them on the
zoom camera.
Grey herons, little cormorants, white pelicans, hornbills,
storks, egrets, darters are the popular winter visitors to this secluded retreat. Some of
them travel thousands of miles all the way from Siberia, to avoid the biting cold.
November to February are in fact the best months for bird watching at
Vedanthangal. Every
year, these migratory birds come from afar to nest here during this season. But their
numbers are slowly dwindling because of the increasing pollution in the area and the
dropping water level of the lake. Proper maintenance of the sanctuary is also lacking.
Still Vedanthangal continues to be a paradise for bird
watchers, especially during the winter season, when birds in a myriad of colours and kinds
descend on the lake in hordes. A beautiful sight to behold indeed!
If you’re planning a visit to Vedanthangal by bus,
catch the direct metro bus to Chingleput,  either from Parry’s
Corner or Tambaram. It takes anywhere between 40 minutes to one and a half-hours to reach
Chingleput. From there, private buses ply to Vedanthangal at an interval of every 40
minutes reaching the destination in roughly about half an hour. In addition, they wait at
the sanctuary for about 30 minutes, sufficient time for you to complete your bird watching
- as
the sanctuary is not very large.
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