Bird Walk at Meyyur Lake area in Nemam, Thiruvallur

Name: Bird Walk at Meyyur Lake area in Nemam, Thiruvallur
Start: 2025-10-26T06:00:00+05:30
End: 2025-10-26T08:00:00+05:30

About Meyyur Lake

Meyyur Lake, located near Nemam in Thiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu, is a large freshwater wetland spread across roughly 150–200 hectares, depending on seasonal inflow. The lake is fed by monsoon rains and local catchment streams, forming a shallow basin with extensive reed beds, mudflats, and open water zones. Surrounding areas include paddy fields, grazing lands, and small patches of scrub vegetation, together creating a mosaic of habitats ideal for both resident and migratory birds. Common birds visiting the lake are Spot-billed Pelican, Painted Stork, Asian Openbill, Purple Heron, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Black-winged Stilt, Little Cormorant, Common Coot, Whiskered Tern, and Garganey during the winter months. Smaller passerines like Paddyfield Pipit, Ashy Prinia, and Plain Prinia thrive along the grass-fringed bunds, while White-breasted Waterhen and Purple Swamphen are frequently seen in the marshy interiors.

However, the ecological integrity of Meyyur Lake faces growing threats from urban expansion, encroachment, and pollution due to agricultural runoff and household waste from nearby villages. Seasonal drying from overextraction of water for irrigation further reduces wetland depth, affecting nesting and feeding habitats for waders and ducks. Conservation efforts need to prioritize wetland restoration, catchment protection, and community-based monitoring.

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Common birds of Meyyur Lake

Meyyur (Nemam) Lake in Thiruvallur, Tamil Nadu, is an ecologically vibrant freshwater wetland that has emerged as a significant birding hotspot, with over 140 bird species recorded from the area. Its mosaic of habitats — open water, reed beds, mudflats, and agricultural fringes — supports a rich assemblage of both resident and migratory species. The lake teems with Red-wattled Lapwings, Black-winged Stilts, Indian Spot-billed Ducks, and Lesser Whistling-Ducks, which are commonly seen feeding and nesting along the shallow zones. Cormorants, herons, and egrets such as Little Cormorant, Purple Heron, and Eastern Cattle Egret frequent the lake edges, while large waders like Painted Stork, Asian Openbill, and Glossy Ibis utilize it as a feeding ground during the post-monsoon months. The surrounding grasslands and scrub areas provide shelter for Ashy Prinia, Plain Prinia, Baya Weaver, and Yellow-billed Babbler, which are characteristic of Tamil Nadu’s semi-urban wetlands.