Thattekad Bird Sanctuary

Area: 25.16 sq km

Established: The Thattekkad bird sanctuary was established by Dr Salim Ali, India's pre-eminent ornithologist in 1983

Description:: Set in the Western Ghats, the terrain of the Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary is undulating with elevations ranging between 35 m and 523 m, the tallest peak being the Njayappilli peak (523 m).

Dr Salim Ali, India's pre-eminent ornithologist and the architect of this sanctuary identified 167 varieties of birds, several of them native to southern India. His student Dr Sugathan later reported 207 varieties and the Bombay Natural History Society identified 167 varieties, an indication of the richness of avian life in this sanctuary.

Since the sanctuary is situated in the catchment area of the Bhoothathankett dam, several water birds can also be seen here. The forests are tropical evergreen, tropical semi-evergreen and tropical deciduous along with large patches of grasslands.

Prominent Birds: Birds which can be seen in the Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary are the Indian roller, cuckoo, common spine, crow pheasant, jungle nightjar, kite, grey drongo, Malabar trogon,woodpecker,large pied wagtail, bia sparrow, grey junglefowl, Indian hill myna, robin bird, jungle babbler, darter, crimson-throated barbet, bee-eater, shrike, fairy bluebird, grey-headed fishing eagle, blackwinged kite, night heron, Malabar shama, common grey hornbill and Malabar hornbill.

Prominent Animals: The elephant, the leopara bear, porcupine, python and cobra can be sighted at the sanctuary.

Access: The nearest airport is 71 km away at Kochi while the nearest railway station is Aluva, at a distance of 48 km.

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Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary

Kerala, the beautiful coastal state in southern India known for its backwaters, is home to over 500 species of birds. The Periyar Tiger Reserve, Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, Parambikulam Wildlife Reserve and the Wayanad Sanctuary are places where the bird enthusiast can see the great Malabar hornbill, the red faced malkoha, lotens sunbird, the Malabar trogon, paradise flycatcher, hill mynas and others.

Description:: The Kumarakom bird sanctuary, situated on the banks of the Vembanand Lake, is especially worth a visit for its varied avian population including several migratory birds.

Prominent Birds: This sanctuary harbours water fowl, cuckoos, egrets, herons, water ducks and owls, as well as the migratory Siberian cranes. Parrots, teals, larks, flycatchers, wood beetle and a few other birds are also seen here during their respective migratory seasons.

Best Season: The best time to visit for seeing resident birds is from June to August, with November to February being the best time for migratory birds. Houseboats and motor boats are available for bird watching cruises on the lake.

Access: The Kumarakom bird sanctuary is situated 12 km from Kottayam which is well-connected with the rest of the country. Speedy boats and luxury cruisers are also available from Cochin.

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