Flamingos in Pallikaranai

Due to the frequent rains in the past few days in Chennai, Pallikaranai marshland has started getting some inflow of water. The slight increase increase in the water level might have encouraged the Flamingo population which is there in the marshland from some time to move till the edge of the marsh. Last weekend the birds were found to be comparatively closer to the Thoraipakkam road than before. I managed to get some better photos than my last attempt.

Cloudy morning

Taking a walk

Sometimes loneliness feels good

Flock or Flamboyance

Head Held high

Time to Rest

The presence of the flamingos has in a way helped the marshland. Due to the continuous attention it is drawing through the visit of birdwatchers and photography enthusiasts, the pathway inside the fencing surrounding the marshland is somewhat cleaner than it used to be.  Also due to the coverage it is getting from the local and national newspapers, even the local residents and morning walkers are stopping to take look at the birds, who otherwise would not have bothered to stop because of the stench. This has in turn made the forest department to put up a number of signboards on either side of the Pallavaram – Thuraipakkam road about the conservation of the marshland. The forest department outpost which used to be mostly empty is now occupied by two guards; a visitor’s register is also being maintained to record the number of visitors to the marshland.

So this is what they call a “Win – Win situation” (for both the birds and the marshland).