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Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary

Koonthankulam Birds Sanctuary is a unique sanctuary actively protected and managed by the Koonthakulam village community. The largest breeding water bird reserve in south India attracts more than one lakh birs annually. It is located 35 kms away from Tirunelveli in Tirunelveli Thisaianvilai Road comprising of Koonthankulam and Kadankulam tanks covering an extent of 129.33 hectares and declared as sanctuary in 1994.
It is significant that the local people have taken keen interest in protecting this sanctuary and they live together in total symbiotic relationship.

Barheaded Goosel

Night Heron

The birds coming to their backyards for five generations are protected vehemently by villagers and regarded as harbingers of luck. The excreta of birds –‘guano’ is collected by villagers in summer along with silt to use as fertilizer in their fields. From children to grannies in the village all protect them, their nests and fledgelings. Chicks fallen are taken care of in the rescue centre till they are able to fly on their own. Anybody troubling the nests are punished inn their own methods of shaving the head, or making the procession on donkey.

Location

Map

Flora

The Babul plantation of 30 ha. in koonthakulam is th emain breeding ground.

Fauna

More than 43 water birds both resident and migratory are visiting every year regularly in the month of January/February and used to vacate in the month of July/August after nesting, hatching and nurturing the young once. Many large water birds especially Painted stork, Flamingos have been nesting annually around koonthankulam village over a long period . Accacia nilotica trees grown in the tank foreshores by the Social Forestry Division of Forest Department and also in village trees.

The following migratory birds visit this area from different countries mentioned against them.
1.	Barheaded Goose	Siberia	7.	White stork	Germany
2.	Pintail	Siberia	8.	Large flamingo	Partially from Germany
3.	Spotted Sand Piper	Siberia	9.	Common Sand Piper	Lower part of Ladak
4.	Green Sand Piper	Siberia	10.	Common Teal	Siberia
5.	Green Shank	Northern end of Siberia	11.	Pallavan	Siberia
6.	Coot	Central Siberia

Painted Stork

The following water birds also play an important role in occupying the trees in and around the Koonthankulam Sanctuary during January to August of every year from other parts of our country.
1.	Dabchick or Little Grebe	18.	White Ibis
2.	Grey or Spottedbilled Pelican	19	Glossy Ibis
3.	Large Cormorant	20.	Spoonbill
4.	Lesser Cormorant	21.	Spotbill Duck
5.	Little Cormorant	22.	Cotton Teal or Pygmy Goose
6.	Grey Heron	23.	Indian Moorhen
7.	Purple Heron	24.	Purple Moorhen
8.	Darter or Snake Bird	25.	Pheasant-tailed Jacana
9.	Large Egret	26.	Bronzewinged Jacana
10.	Pond Heron	27.	Brahminy Kite
11.	Cattle Egret	28.	Whitebreasted Waterhen
12.	Smaller or Medium Egret	29.	Blackwinged Stilt
13.	Little Egret	30.	Redwattled Lapwing
14.	Night Heron	31.	Pied Kingfisher
15.	Painted Stork	32.	Whitebreasted Kingfisher
16.	Openbill Stork	33.	Indian Pied Wagtail
17.	Small king fisher

Approach

	Tirunelveli -- 35 kms Nazareth -- 15 kms
	Railway : Tirunelveli -- 35 kms
	Airport : Madurai – 200 kms Trivandrum -- 250 kms

Tourist info

An Interpretation Centre is constructed.Tar road links the tank conveniently. A watch tower is constructed. A childerns park is created. A Dormitary is constructed.
Open Season Throughout the year Best time to visit - November to April Climate (March to October) 20oC – 40o C

Acccommodation

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