The Pulicat Lake always holds a surprise for bird-watchers. During a recent visit, members of The Nature Trust found a flock of red-crested pochards paddling in the lake. “This duck from Europe visits North India during winter and is rarely seen in the southern parts of the country. According to a report by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), red-crested pochards were sighted at the Kaliveli wetland (near Marakkanam,Villupuram District) years ago. The Forest Department has also reported sighting these birds at a lake adjacent to the Pulicat Lake. But, sightings have been few and far between,” says K.V.R.K Thirunaranan, founder of the Trust.
The naturalist believes the sighting at Pulicat has great significance for the wetland. “It helps build up the case for according ‘Ramsar Site' status to the Lake.”
