If there is a plan to take children for a picnic during summer vacation, then Koonthankulam will be the ideal destination. They are sure to be thrilled at the sight of a few thousand painted storks and pelicans.
Since the district was blessed with good rainfall during the last northeast monsoon, almost all waterbodies across the district boast of decent storage. Koonthankulam and Kaadankulam – collectively forming Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary – are brimming with water, which is essential to attract and retain the birds for a longer duration. The residents of these villages treat these winged visitors gently.
These two waterbodies attract over 45 bird species, including painted stork, flamingo, bar-headed goose, pelican, spoonbill, ibis, snake bird, heron, tern, duck, egret, garganey and pintail, all nesting at Koonthankulam whenever this region receives good rainfall.
“A good number of flamingos had camped at nearby Kaadankulam, and they left for another destination only in April,” says S. Paulpandi of Koonthankulam, a birdwatcher.
They prefer to stay back
After the transnational and domestic migratory birds left for their destinations, it is the painted storks and pelicans that have preferred to stay back. While acacia and neem trees grown all over the village are carrying over 1,000 nests with painted stork chicks in them, black babul trees grown in the middle of the sprawling Koonthankulam tank may be home to more than 2,000 nests.
Though a few hundred tourists from various parts of southern Tamil Nadu are visiting this sleepy hamlet every day to take a look at the winged visitors, especially the painted storks perched atop the acacia all over the village, the sanitation in the village is far from satisfactory. Since the village has not been provided with a proper sewage channel, sewerage is flowing all along the road.
“Whenever it rains, the situation will turn worse as none can enter the village on foot. The pothole-ridden road, which was laid a decade ago, is still awaiting the dawn. All our appeals to the officials of the forest department and local body administration still remain unheard,” said S. Murugan of Koonthankulam.
After enjoying a relatively smooth ride from Palayamkottai to Moolaikkaraipatti, the tourists will have to undertake a brief back-breaking journey for about 10 minutes to cross the six-kilometre stretch between Moolaikkaraipatti and Koonthankulam.
“Since the election is over now, steps may be initiated to relay this road as it is being used by a large number of tourists,” said N. Subramanian of Moolaikkaraipatti.
Since the district was blessed with good rainfall during the last northeast monsoon, almost all waterbodies across the district boast of decent storage. Koonthankulam and Kaadankulam – collectively forming Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary – are brimming with water, which is essential to attract and retain the birds for a longer duration. The residents of these villages treat these winged visitors gently.
These two waterbodies attract over 45 bird species, including painted stork, flamingo, bar-headed goose, pelican, spoonbill, ibis, snake bird, heron, tern, duck, egret, garganey and pintail, all nesting at Koonthankulam whenever this region receives good rainfall.
“A good number of flamingos had camped at nearby Kaadankulam, and they left for another destination only in April,” says S. Paulpandi of Koonthankulam, a birdwatcher.
They prefer to stay back
After the transnational and domestic migratory birds left for their destinations, it is the painted storks and pelicans that have preferred to stay back. While acacia and neem trees grown all over the village are carrying over 1,000 nests with painted stork chicks in them, black babul trees grown in the middle of the sprawling Koonthankulam tank may be home to more than 2,000 nests.
Though a few hundred tourists from various parts of southern Tamil Nadu are visiting this sleepy hamlet every day to take a look at the winged visitors, especially the painted storks perched atop the acacia all over the village, the sanitation in the village is far from satisfactory. Since the village has not been provided with a proper sewage channel, sewerage is flowing all along the road.
“Whenever it rains, the situation will turn worse as none can enter the village on foot. The pothole-ridden road, which was laid a decade ago, is still awaiting the dawn. All our appeals to the officials of the forest department and local body administration still remain unheard,” said S. Murugan of Koonthankulam.
After enjoying a relatively smooth ride from Palayamkottai to Moolaikkaraipatti, the tourists will have to undertake a brief back-breaking journey for about 10 minutes to cross the six-kilometre stretch between Moolaikkaraipatti and Koonthankulam.
“Since the election is over now, steps may be initiated to relay this road as it is being used by a large number of tourists,” said N. Subramanian of Moolaikkaraipatti.