Bird Watching

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
Located on the banks of Vembanad Lake in Kerala, Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is home for local birds like the waterfowl, cuckoo, owl, egret, heron and the water duck, and migratory birds like the siberian stork, Parrots, teal, larks, flycatchers, wood beetle, egret, darter, heron and teal. The sanctuary is spread across 14 acres. The village of Kumarakom is a cluster of little islands on the Vembanad Lake, and is part of the Kuttanad region.

Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary
Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary is home for the birds like Peacock, Grey Jungle Fowl, Red Spur Fowl, Grey Partridge Quails, Goggle Eyed Plower, Malabar Whistling Thrush, large Racket-Tailed Dronge, The Magpie-robin, Spotted Babbler, Small Green Barbet, Green Pigeons, Brown Dove, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Bulbuls, Mynahs, etc. Among them, Eagles, Hawks, Buzzards, Harriers, Falcons and King Vulture are predominant, besides some migratory water birds. It is also home for many animals.

Vedathangal Bird Sanctuary
Vedathangal Bird Sanctuary is the oldest Bird Sanctuary in India, located in Tamil Nadu of India. Every year, a large number of migratory birds like Grey Heron, Cormorant, Egrets, Darter, Open-billed Stork, Spoonbill, White Ibis, Grebes, Night Herons and Grey Pelican visit this Sanctuary. It is home for other birds like Cormorants, Darters, Herons, egrets, Open billed Storck, White Ibis, little Grebe, Indian Moorhen, Black Winged Stilts etc. This sanctuary can be visited on the way to Mamalapuram, which is just 53 kms away and 85 kms from Chennai.

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary
Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary is a small sanctuary, comprising of six islets on the banks of the Kaveri River, and is very close to the historic town Srirangapatana in Karnataka. The sanctuary is now a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts, nature lovers and bird watchers. It is home for the Birds like Painted Stork, Asian Openbill Stork, Common Spoonbill, Woolly-necked Stork, Black-headed Ibis, White Ibis, Lesser Whistling Duck, Indian Shag, Stork-billed Kingfisher and other common birds like egrets, cormorants, Oriental Darter, and herons.

Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary
Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary, located on the northern bank of River Periyar, is one of the popular National Parks in Kerala. Dr. Salim Ali, The famous ornithologist designed this sanctuary. It is home for birds like Indian Roller, Cukoo, Common Snipe, Crow Pheasant, Jungle Nightjar, Kite, Grey Drongo, Malabar Trogon etc.

Kolleru Bird Sanctuary
Situated in Andhra Pradesh in Godavari District, 60 kms from Vijayawada, this picturesque bird sanctuary of India is a great tourist attraction. The prime attraction of birds are Painted storks, open bill storks, Grey Herons, cormorants, white Ibises, glossy Ibises, egrets, Reef Herons, Ducks, Coots, Shovellers, Terns, Jacanas, Moorhens etc.

Manjira Bird Sanctuary
Located near Sangareddy in Medak District, Andhra Pradesh (50-km From Hyderabad), the Manjira Bird Sanctuary is a haven to a variety of migratory as well as domestic feathered species. The birds include Painted Storks, Herons, Coots, Teals, Cormorants, Pochards, Black and White Ibises, Spoon Bills, Open Billed Storks etc.

Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary
Located 40 kms from Thodupuzha, just above the arch dam, Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary extends over the Thodupuzha and Udumpanchola taluks of Idukki district spreading over 77sq. kms. With the picturesque lake on the three sides of the sanctuary, a majestic arch dam across two hills and roaming wild animals like elephants and gaur in herds in the semi-evergreen and deciduous forests is a great tourist attraction. It is home for birds like Jungle Fowl, Myna, Laughing Thrush, Black Bulbul, Peafowl, Woodpecker, Kingfisher etc. Apart from birds, it is also home for many wild animals.

Kunthakulam Bird Sanctuary
Kunthakulam Bird Sanctuary is located 33kms south of Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu. Kunthakulam is a small and natural scenic village, which is covered with natural forests and ponds. Many birds migrate here during January to April from countries like Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, USA, and Australia.

Kawal Sanctuary
Located 50-kms from Mancherial in Andhra Pradesh, Kawal Sanctuary is home for birds like Peacocks, Patridges, Quails, Vultures, Eagles, Kites, Owls, Mynas, Pigeons, Tree - pies, Kingfishers. Also animals like Sloth Bear, Panther, Tiger etc are here.

Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary
Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary, located 25kms away from Calicut (Kozhikode), is haven for migratory birds like Terns, Gulls, Herons, Sand pipers, Whimbrels etc. Many of the migratory birds flock from the month of November and returns only by the end of April.

A vacation trip to these Bird sanctuaries in Southern India are both enchanting and adventurous experience.