Erode: Around 10 villages near the Vellode Birds Sanctuary celebrated a ‘cracker-free Deepavali’ on Sunday for the 21st consecutive year. This lets thousands of migratory birds and residents be spared from toxic smoke and noise.
As part of the remarkable gesture of ecological harmony, children voluntarily gave up crackers and burst only sparklers, and the villagers celebrated the festival in new clothes. This is the breeding season for the birds, and this is a considerate act to keep them safe and undisturbed. The sanctuary attracts various species of native and migratory birds from different parts of India and abroad.
The sanctuary is one of the 16 bird sanctuaries in the official ‘List of Protected Areas of Tamil Nadu’. The 20-acre sanctuary was established in 1996 by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.
The sanctuary is located around the Periyakulam Lake tank and has no adjoining woodland, unlike other bird sanctuaries in Tamil Nadu.
The birds usually visit to nest and breed during March and October. According to PTI reports, the numbers have been reduced these days. Previously, the place attracted thousands of birds, most of them migratory.
The sanctuary accommodates a variety of birds: the bar-headed goose, black-tailed godwit, Eurasian spoonbill, spot-billed pelican, Western marsh harrier, blue-tailed bee-eater and so on.
(With agency inputs from PTI)