Vedanthangal Dawn Birding Walk

A sanctuary the villagers built

Vedanthangal is a village tank about 80 km south of Chennai whose trees fill every winter with nesting waterbirds. The farmers here protected the birds for their guano, which fertilises the fields the tank waters, and it was declared a sanctuary in 1936. It is now also a Ramsar wetland. The sanctuary is open to visitors in the migratory season, roughly November to March depending on the monsoon; dates outside the season are cancelled with a full refund.

The walk

We meet at the sanctuary gate just after it opens and walk the public bund path along the tank, stopping at the viewpoints and the watchtower. Your guide helps you find and tell apart painted storks, Asian openbills, spot-billed pelicans, cormorants, egrets, herons and spoonbills, and explains the nesting cycle you are watching. Binoculars and a printed checklist are provided; a spotting scope is set up at the main viewpoint.

Good to know

The walk is flat and about 2-3 km. The sanctuary entry ticket is paid at the gate and is included in the price. We keep to the visitor path, speak quietly and never use calls or flash. Finish with filter coffee and a list of everything you saw.