FLAMINGOS, the pinky shiny birds

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A flock of Flamingos glow the lake in the Golden Hours

PINKY shiny FLAMINGOS OF pulicat

Flamingos, the pinky shiny birds, need no introduction. They are the hefty size birds with crimson-pinkish-white color   which gather in large groups, during the season. They virtually glow Pulicat lake with their shiny and pinky color. These are the birds which we see walking slowly in the marshes showing their long neck with a peculiar filter-feeding bill, equally long pinky legs with webbed feet, making grunting and nasal honking call.

PULICAT & THE PINKY SHINY FLAMINGOS

The Salt lake Pulicat is one of the very well-known migration lands for Flamingos. 

It’s is a small town in Tamil Nadu. This is situated in the North at around an hour drive from Chennai, sharing the border town with the neighboring State, Andhra.  With a long stretch of shallow salt water creek, the lake is having a vast, expansive and wide spread area supplying enough food and required habitat for the pinky Flamingos.

A marching activity of a pair of Lesser Flamingo, showing their pinky and shiny plumage, in the early morning sun , in Pulicat Lake
Pair of Lesser Flamingos.
(Pic. Credit: Sait. Focus )
From Pulicat April 2023

A pair of greater flamingos, trying to bond with each other, while a few others look on, in Pulicat Lake
Greater Flamingos : A good time to bond (Pic Credit: Dineshkumar ) From Pulicat April 2023

A group of Lesser Flamingos, busy searching food in the salt water, Pulicat lake, exhibiting their pinky color.
Group of Lesser Flamingos. (Pic Credit: Dineshkumar) From Pulicat April 2023

PULICAT IS SYNONYM FOR FLAMINGOS, THE PINKY BIRDS

It is believed that Flamingos migrate all the way from few South Asian countries, like Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan to India. They migrate especially to Gujarat where they breed and move to the other well-known saltwater lakes and lagoons down south, like Pulicat during winter.

It is not without reasons, this salt water lake attracts hundreds and thousands of both Greater and Lesser Flamingos every seasons. It’s an awesome sight that during golden hours, the lake water virtually glow rosy with the presence of the Flamingos, the pink shiny birds.

Hence it may not be an exaggeration to say that Pulicat is synonym for Flamingos.

A large group of Greater Flamingos, the pinky shiny birds, performing the regular marching activity, in Pulicat Lake, in the early hours.
Greater Flamingos in Pulicat lake, doing a regular marching activity. (Pic Credit : Dineshkumar ) from Pulicat April 2023

THE FLAMINGO SEASON IN PULICAT:

October to March is the best season to sight flamingos in large numbers in Pulicat. Very rarely this season extends further to the end of May. It is during the peak season, the popular “Flamingo Festival” is also held in Pulicat.

In addition to Flamingos hundreds of other birds also migrate to Pulicat during this season.  Thus, the Tourism authorities have rightly identified Pulicat as one of the prominent Bird Sanctuaries of Tamil Nadu.

Pulicat offers plenty of other sightseeing possibilities. Hence this place is no doubt a perfect one for a weekend escape and enjoyment, for Bird watchers and Bird Photographers in particular.

  • How do we reach Pulicat?
  • Whom to contact for a hassle-free birding at Pulicat?
  • What Pulicat offers to the Wild Lifers and Photographers?

(See our next page on Pulicat)

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