Birdwatchers state on an average, 40,000 birds can be seen here throughout January and February, the peak migratory season. The sanctuary now runs out than 10,000 birds.
Early drying up of water bodies around Kunthankulam appears tohave caused a dip in arrival of birds, said a bird watcher.
Chennai-based birder K V R K Thirunaranan, who went to the sanctuary just recently, said the tanks that surround the bird sanctuary are the feeding and roosting ground for lots of birds, consisting of migratory ducks.
Birds such as pelicans, painted storks, ibises, herons and egrets build their nests in the sanctuary for breeding. Early drying up of water bodies in the area of Kunthankulam is not a good indication, he said.
When called, the state water resources department said. “The drying up of water bodies is primarily due to lacking rains in 2015.”
An authorities said that water from river Manimuthar, which was launched on Tuesday, can fill the tank in the sanctuary quickly, besides filling water bodies close by.
This might cause more birds reaching the sanctuary, a bird watcher from Tirunelveli said.
