Sayalkudi,
All 5 bird sanctuaries in the district were deserted without birds due to failure of monsoon.
Bird sanctuary
Bird sanctuaries are located at 5 places in Ramanathapuram district near Nayanar temple, Kanchirangulam in Mudugulathur taluk, Chitrakkudi, Mechelvanur near Sayalkudi and Chakarkottai Kanmai in Ramanathapuram.
Every year these bird sanctuaries are visited by large numbers of birds during the months of October and November after the onset of the northeast monsoon season. These birds return in April or May.
Mechelvanur Bird Sanctuary near Chayalkudi is also visited by numerous birds including Yellow-nosed stork, Brick stork, Gray stork, Gray grebe and White grebe from October and November after the onset of the northeast monsoon season. These birds nest in the tree branches in the water level of the sanctuary, lay their eggs and hatch and then return again in April or May with the chicks.
Deserted
This year, even after two and a half months since the start of the northeast monsoon season, the district has not received much monsoon rain. Due to the failure of the monsoon rains, the Selvanur Bird Sanctuary has also dried up without water this year. Due to lack of water, not a single bird has come to the bird sanctuary even after two and a half months of the season. Due to this, the water level of the sanctuary has dried up and all the tree branches and birds are being seen deserted.
The villagers are also very disappointed as the sanctuary, which is beautiful with the sound of birds, has dried up without water. It is noteworthy that birds have not arrived in all the 5 bird sanctuaries in the district so far this year.
Encroachment of supply channel
Mechelvanur Panchayat Council Chairman Makarajyothi said that birds from Australia, Russia, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and other countries used to nest in the trees here in the months of Purtasi and Ipasi months and then return with the chicks in the months of Tai and Masi. For the last two years, the influx of foreign birds has decreased due to lack of water in Mechelalvanur Kanmai. Tourists who come here return disappointed because of the lack of birds.
He said that only if the Vaigai water that separates from Parthipanur area to Mechelvanur is removed from the encroachment of the Vaigai water coming to Mechelvanur through Koothan canal, the birds will stay in the sanctuary.
Need to improve
Gopalakrishnan, Former Panchayat Council President of Mechelalvanur:- This sanctuary has a Kanmai area of 1300 acres, basic facilities are not provided in this sanctuary. Due to the encroachment of the road from Parthipanur and Udikulam to Sambakulam, the water coming to Koothan Canal is blocked. If the encroachment is removed, water will flow to Mechelalvanur Kanmai. Also the oak trees in Kanmai under the sanctuary should be removed. He also said that the district administration should take steps to improve the sanctuary by setting up basic structures and setting up a park.