It's a visual treat for birdwatchers as greater flamingos flock Kanyakumari

Kanyakumari: The arrival of greater flamingos at the Manakudi estuary in Kanyakumari district has turned into a birdwatchers paradise with people thronging the area with enthusiasm to have a glimpse of the pink visitors. However, unlike previous year when they were spotted till Tenkasi in Tirunelveli district, this time around, the birds have limited themselves to Kanyakumari and Dhanushkodi in Ramanathapuram district.The Kanyakumari forest department has now decided to conduct a survey on these pink visitors.
Beginning November when winter sets in Europe and North India, migratory birds start arriving in South India. The water bodies in southern districts are their favourite destinations where they spend the winter till March. In the case of flamingos, they migrate from Rann of Kutch to coastal water bodies since they prefer saline waters for feeding.
With Kanyakumari having a pleasant climate, food availability, safe habitat, flamingos make it a point to visit the estuary every year, said environmentalist S S Davidson from Tribal Foundation in Nagercoil.
They are found foraging in the flooded salt pans and shallow waters hunting for food, wading as colony like the march of an army parade. It is a feast to the eyes to witness the scenic beauty and watching this gift of nature, he said. "We have documented around 250 pair of flamingos in Manakudi estuary this year," he said.
As Manakudi salt pans or estuary is declared as part of conservation reserve, Kanyakumari forest department will undertake a survey on these flamingos, said district forest officer, Vismiju Viswanathan. "The survey will be conducted this month to document the number of flamingos visiting the reserve," he said.
However, birdwatchers say the number of flamingos is comparatively lesser this year.
Last year, they were spotted in water bodies in Tenkasi region, deep inside the hinterland of Tirunelveli district, unusual for flamingos to go that far from coastal landscape. A bunch of lesser flamingos - shorter than the greater flamingos - were also spotted for the first time in Valinokkam beach in 2015.
During the Tamirabarani Water Fowl Count exercise, birdwatchers spotted only one greater flamingo in Kuppukurichikulam in Srivaikundam area. "Flamingos need flat muddy surface to forage and this year most of the water bodies are flooded which could be a reason they are not spotted in big numbers in Tuticorin and Tirunelveli districts," said K Muthunarayanan, a Tuticorin-based birdwatcher.
Similarly, Dhanushkodi used to see hundreds of flamingos forming a wall of pink but this year they are very less, according to residents.
The Pink beauties
Greater flamingos are tall birds with long, lean, curved necks and black-tipped bills
Their distinctive downward bend allows the bills to feed on small organisms - plankton, tiny fish and fly larvae
According to ornithologists, flamingos start coming to Tamil Nadu from December and remain till March
They migrating from the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat looking for food and escape from the harsh winter
Flamingos can be spotted in brackish waters near the sea from Palaverkadu lake up to Tuticorin port
They don't breed in the region but mostly come here for food during winter
This year, not many birds are spotted other than Dhanushkodi and Manakudi Estuary