Showing posts with label Nelapattu. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nelapattu. Show all posts
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Ballerinas in pink and spotted bills
Monday, August 4, 2008
Asian Openbills at Nelpattu
Lining a bund enroute to Nelappatu
I remember that early December morning when we saw these OBS sitting on a bund, looking rather morose and meditative. They reminded me of old fishermen sitting by the pier, each lost in their thoughts and memories but drawing on the comfort of each other's silent company!
Around the corner in the fields, we had a closer encounter with these birds. They were more busy than their bund counterparts, actively looking for snails - that's what they are fond of - in the marshy soil.
Around the corner in the fields, we had a closer encounter with these birds. They were more busy than their bund counterparts, actively looking for snails - that's what they are fond of - in the marshy soil.
The bills dont quite close, and it is obviously an adaptation to help their feeding. Like a set of pliers, the gap helps them to clamp on to their prey maybe?
The grey plumage of their upper body indicates that they are in non-breeding mode. Those feather become whiter during breeding.
The grey plumage of their upper body indicates that they are in non-breeding mode. Those feather become whiter during breeding.
On reaching Nelapattu, we saw them nesting there, along with the pelicans. They are rather prolific it appears, and they are classified as "birds of least concern" - not endangered by any means!
I hope that status doesn't change for these long-legged, serious birds!
Monday, March 17, 2008
Pelicans up close at Nelapattu


Then came Finding Nemo, and that delightful animation from Disney of a pelican, its large beak and inquisitive personality.
I always thought of them as these exotic birds that one finds in far-away lands. How ignorant I was. Our chance visit to Nelapattu - just 100 kms away from Madras - and there they were, nesting, socialising and living in a pelicanry. No, they were not migrants from somewhere else, they are there all year long, using the Barringtonia tree tops in the tank as nesting places. Not one or two but hundreds! These are the spot-billed pelicans, common in Asia.
Since then, I've seen them many a time, and am always fascinated by these large birds, each of which seems like quite a character. There was once this solitary, pensive pelican we came across in the waters of Pulicat, who really looked like he was in need of cheering up.
Another one flew by our boat, with a rather busy, dont-bother-me look, and what looked like a bill-full of fish.

Then there was this harassed looking mama pelican trying to calm her testy little ones, as she opened her beak to them. They create quite a combined racket, these birds, and as you approach, it reminds one of a school building where the hum of hundreds of kids carries across the air.

My favourite so far has been this young show off we saw on our last visit. As we watched from the boundaries of the lake, he came gliding down into the water. He came paddling by (they are good swimmers, with duck-like webbed feet), posing for all the shutterbugs, first left profile, then right, straight one now, ok now my beak with the spots, want to see my feathers?, alright that's enough, I have to go now!



A trip to Nelapattu is always rewarding because of these birds, and I could spend hours watching them as they go about their daily routines.
Getting to Nelapattu
Its not difficult to get to. The first time, we took a morning passenger to Gummidipoondi, then changed trains to Doravarichatram, from where its a short, dusty walk to the lake. This last time, we just drove down, lovely highway all the way once you leave the city. Driving down gives you the option of visiting both Pulicat and Nelapattu in a day. That way you can take in the graceful flamingoes and lovely painted storks in Pulicat (they require a separate essay) and then see the pelicans and Ibis and Open-billed storks in Nelapattu.
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