page_title: Birding in Chennai
section_title: Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
hierarchical_section_title: Birding in Chennai / Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
caption_attribution_description: English: NorthernPintailDucks-Vedanthangal
context_page_description: Housing more than 200 resident and wintering bird species, Chennai has long been a haven for bird watchers. It is the one of the few urban areas in India with diverse range of birds including greater flamingo, black baza, osprey, Indian eagle-owl, Coppersmith barbet, Spot billed pelican and pied avocet can be seen. The following are some known birding hotspots in and around Chennai.
context_section_description: Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is one of the oldest bird sanctuaries in India. Covering 30 hectares, this lake is a nesting colony for thousands of winter migrants. The lake has trees like Barringtonia and Acacia species where the nests are built and young are raised.
  Highlights: Heronry and wintering ducks.
  The bird species that nest here include painted stork, grey heron, Eurasian spoonbill, darter (snakebird), little cormorant, spot-billed pelican, black-headed ibis, glossy ibis, little egret, intermediate egret and great egret, black-crowned night heron, pond heron and Asian openbill stork. Hundreds of garganey teals, northern pintail and northern shoveller can also be seen in the lake. The best time to visit Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is from November to March.
  How to reach Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary: Google Maps
caption: Northern pintails at Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
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