Bird Walk at Thazhambur Big Lake, Chennai
- Chennai
- 19 September, 2026
- Rs 170 per head
- Fee collected goes entirely to the bird guide. Ataavi does not retain or profit from this amount.
About Thazhambur Big Lake
Thazhambur Big Lake is a wetland landscape in the southern outskirts of Chennai, surrounded by a mix of open areas, settlements, roads, and patches of vegetation. The lake forms an important water body within a rapidly developing part of the city, with its open water and surrounding wetland edges changing in character with the seasons. Water levels can vary through the year, exposing shallow margins and muddy areas during drier periods while creating broader aquatic habitat after rainfall. The surrounding landscape adds further habitat diversity, with scattered trees, shrubs, grasses, and open ground around the lake.
The lake is part of the wider wetland network of the Chennai region and provides an important natural space within an increasingly urbanised landscape. Its ecological character is influenced by seasonal rainfall, water flow, surrounding land use, and the condition of the lake margins. Urban expansion, encroachment, pollution, waste accumulation, and changes to natural drainage can place pressure on such wetlands. Maintaining open water, natural shoreline vegetation, and healthy seasonal water cycles is therefore important for preserving the ecological value of Thazhambur Big Lake.
Bird Guide - Sudharsan S
He is an MSc Zoology student with a strong curiosity to learn about nature and wildlife. Trained as a naturalist, mountaineer, and birdwatcher, he has participated in various bird and wildlife censuses, gaining valuable field experience in observing and documenting species. His academic background and hands-on experiences continue to strengthen his passion for understanding and conserving the natural world.
Bird walk Location
Common birds of Thazhambur Big Lake
Thazhambur Big Lake supports a varied community of wetland and terrestrial birds. Water-associated species include Indian Spot-billed Duck, Little Grebe, Purple Heron, Grey Heron, Indian Pond Heron, Little Egret, Great Egret, White-breasted Waterhen, Grey-headed Swamphen, Little Cormorant, and Indian Cormorant. The lake edges also attract Common Sandpiper, while Common Kingfisher and White-throated Kingfisher represent the kingfishers associated with the wetland. Asian Green Bee-eater adds to the diversity of insectivorous birds found around the open areas.
The surrounding vegetation and open landscape support species such as Greater Coucal, Asian Koel, and Red-vented Bulbul, while Black Kite and Brahminy Kite add raptors to the bird community. Together, these records reflect the variety of habitats available around Thazhambur Big Lake, from open water and shallow margins to surrounding vegetation and terrestrial areas. The combination makes the lake a valuable birdwatching site within the Chennai region.
Indian Spot-billed Duck
Little Grebe
Purple Heron
Grey Heron
Indian Pond Heron
Little Egret
Great Egret
White-breasted Waterhen
Grey-headed Swamphen
Little Cormorant
Indian Cormorant
Common Kingfisher
White-throated Kingfisher
Asian Green Bee-eater
Black Kite
Brahminy Kite
Common Sandpiper
Greater Coucal
Asian Koel
Red-vented Bulbul
- Fee collected goes entirely to the bird guide. Ataavi does not retain or profit from this amount.
