BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Ataavi - ECPv6.12.0.1//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Ataavi X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://ataavi.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Ataavi REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Asia/Kolkata BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0530 TZOFFSETTO:+0530 TZNAME:IST DTSTART:20260101T000000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260816T063000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260816T083000 DTSTAMP:20261024T124353 CREATED:20260807T094355Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260818T113916Z UID:15558-1786861800-1786869000@ataavi.org SUMMARY:Bird Walk at Gorewada Lake\, Nagpur\, Maharashtra DESCRIPTION:Bird Walk at Pallikarnai Marshland\, Chennai\, TN \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Chennai\n \n \n \n \n 29 August\, 2026\n \n \n \n \n Francis Anish\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai is one of the last big freshwater marshes left inside a major Indian metropolis\, hemmed in on all sides by Chennai’s IT corridor along Old Mahabalipuram Road. It is a shadow of its former self — the marsh once spread across some 6\,000 hectares but has been squeezed down to under 600 by decades of landfilling\, road-building\, and unplanned growth — yet what survives is still an internationally important wetland\, formally recognised as a Ramsar site in 2022. Its mix of open water\, reed beds\, and seasonally flooded grassland supports more than 100 recorded fauna species and around 275 plant species\, an extraordinary tally for a site now boxed in by apartment towers on almost every side. \n \n \n \n For birders\, Pallikaranai remains a genuine city-edge spectacle\, drawing waterbirds\, waders\, and raptors that would otherwise have nowhere left to go in urban Chennai. The marsh’s fortunes have been a battleground for years\, with waste dumping by the city corporation\, construction debris\, and pressure from nearby IT campuses steadily chipping away at what is left\, even as eco-restoration work — including a public eco-park opened in 2021 — tries to hold the line. Its Ramsar status has raised its profile considerably\, but conservationists are candid that the gap between protection on paper and protection on the ground remains wide.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird Guide: Francis AnishHe is an ornithologist and avid birdwatcher with over three years of research experience at the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)\, Coimbatore. His work includes research on the Critically Endangered White-bellied Heron\, reflecting his strong interest in bird conservation and ecology. Beyond research\, he regularly explores the field as a passionate birder\, deepening his understanding of bird behavior and habitats. He has also volunteered as a bird expert for the Tamil Nadu Forest Department's raptor survey in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve\, contributing to important wildlife monitoring and conservation efforts.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird walk Location \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Common birds of Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai’s open water and reed beds pack in a lively mix of waterbirds and city-edge regulars\, visible even on a short walk along the marsh boundary. Indian Cormorants and a Spot-billed Pelican work the open water together\, while a Black Drongo watches from a wire and Black-winged Stilts pick through the shallows on impossibly long legs. Egrets are well represented\, with both the Little Egret and Medium Egret stalking the margins alongside an Oriental Darter drying its wings on a snag. Rose-ringed Parakeets screech overhead as Spot-billed Ducks glide across the water\, and the marsh’s ibis population — Glossy Ibis and Black-headed Ibis both — probes the mud for food. A Black Kite circles above\, a Little Grebe dives and resurfaces near the reeds\, and Red-wattled Lapwings call sharply from the open ground. Closer to the marsh edge\, an Asian Green Bee-eater hawks from a low perch\, an Asian Koel calls from nearby trees\, and a Common Tailorbird and Ashy Prinia work the scrub while a Gray Heron stands motionless at the water’s edge — a snapshot of just how much life this shrinking marsh still holds. \n \n \n \n \n Indian Cormorant \n \n \n \n Spot-billed Pelican \n \n \n \n Black Drongo \n \n \n \n Black-winged Stilt \n \n \n \n Little Egret \n \n \n \n Oriental Darter \n \n \n \n Rose-ringed Parakeet \n \n \n \n Indian Spot-billed Duck \n \n \n \n Glossy Ibis \n \n \n \n Black-headed Ibis \n \n \n \n Black Kite \n \n \n \n Little Grebe \n \n \n \n Red-wattled Lapwing \n \n \n \n Asian Green Bee-eater \n \n \n \n Asian Koel \n \n \n \n Common Tailorbird \n \n \n \n Gray Heron \n \n \n \n Rock Pigeon \n \n \n \n Common Hawk Cuckoo \n \n \n \n Ashy Prinia \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Summary of Walk \n \n \n \n Guided by Francis Anish\, fourteen participants gathered at the Pallikarnai Marshland in Chennai to witness a serene sunrise over one of South India’s most significant wetland ecosystems. This expansive marshland\, an important habitat within the city\, offers a striking contrast of open water\, reed beds and grassy patches that draw an impressive variety of resident and migratory birds. \n\nThe walk showcased a wide array of species\, including Little and Indian Cormorants\, Painted Storks\, Black-winged Stilts\, Blue-tailed Bee-eaters\, and both Common and White-throated Kingfishers. Spot-billed Pelicans were seen perching on electrical towers\, alongside Indian Spot-billed Ducks\, Grey and Purple Herons\, and Yellow-billed Babblers. The standout sightings of the morning were the elusive Greater Painted Snipe\, Wood Sandpipers and Tricoloured Munias\, delighting the group with their rarity. It was a beautifully immersive morning that highlighted the ecological richness thriving within Pallikarnai’s wetlands. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Number of Participants \n \n 0 URL:https://ataavi.org/event/bird-walk-at-gorewada-lake-nagpur-maharashtra/ CATEGORIES:Birding Bharat ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ataavi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/IMG-20260816-WA0007.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260816T063000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260816T083000 DTSTAMP:20261024T124353 CREATED:20260807T093153Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260818T113945Z UID:15542-1786861800-1786869000@ataavi.org SUMMARY:Bird Walk at Ganesh Udhayaan\, Kota\, Rajasthan DESCRIPTION:Bird Walk at Pallikarnai Marshland\, Chennai\, TN \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Chennai\n \n \n \n \n 29 August\, 2026\n \n \n \n \n Francis Anish\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai is one of the last big freshwater marshes left inside a major Indian metropolis\, hemmed in on all sides by Chennai’s IT corridor along Old Mahabalipuram Road. It is a shadow of its former self — the marsh once spread across some 6\,000 hectares but has been squeezed down to under 600 by decades of landfilling\, road-building\, and unplanned growth — yet what survives is still an internationally important wetland\, formally recognised as a Ramsar site in 2022. Its mix of open water\, reed beds\, and seasonally flooded grassland supports more than 100 recorded fauna species and around 275 plant species\, an extraordinary tally for a site now boxed in by apartment towers on almost every side. \n \n \n \n For birders\, Pallikaranai remains a genuine city-edge spectacle\, drawing waterbirds\, waders\, and raptors that would otherwise have nowhere left to go in urban Chennai. The marsh’s fortunes have been a battleground for years\, with waste dumping by the city corporation\, construction debris\, and pressure from nearby IT campuses steadily chipping away at what is left\, even as eco-restoration work — including a public eco-park opened in 2021 — tries to hold the line. Its Ramsar status has raised its profile considerably\, but conservationists are candid that the gap between protection on paper and protection on the ground remains wide.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird Guide: Francis AnishHe is an ornithologist and avid birdwatcher with over three years of research experience at the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)\, Coimbatore. His work includes research on the Critically Endangered White-bellied Heron\, reflecting his strong interest in bird conservation and ecology. Beyond research\, he regularly explores the field as a passionate birder\, deepening his understanding of bird behavior and habitats. He has also volunteered as a bird expert for the Tamil Nadu Forest Department's raptor survey in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve\, contributing to important wildlife monitoring and conservation efforts.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird walk Location \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Common birds of Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai’s open water and reed beds pack in a lively mix of waterbirds and city-edge regulars\, visible even on a short walk along the marsh boundary. Indian Cormorants and a Spot-billed Pelican work the open water together\, while a Black Drongo watches from a wire and Black-winged Stilts pick through the shallows on impossibly long legs. Egrets are well represented\, with both the Little Egret and Medium Egret stalking the margins alongside an Oriental Darter drying its wings on a snag. Rose-ringed Parakeets screech overhead as Spot-billed Ducks glide across the water\, and the marsh’s ibis population — Glossy Ibis and Black-headed Ibis both — probes the mud for food. A Black Kite circles above\, a Little Grebe dives and resurfaces near the reeds\, and Red-wattled Lapwings call sharply from the open ground. Closer to the marsh edge\, an Asian Green Bee-eater hawks from a low perch\, an Asian Koel calls from nearby trees\, and a Common Tailorbird and Ashy Prinia work the scrub while a Gray Heron stands motionless at the water’s edge — a snapshot of just how much life this shrinking marsh still holds. \n \n \n \n \n Indian Cormorant \n \n \n \n Spot-billed Pelican \n \n \n \n Black Drongo \n \n \n \n Black-winged Stilt \n \n \n \n Little Egret \n \n \n \n Oriental Darter \n \n \n \n Rose-ringed Parakeet \n \n \n \n Indian Spot-billed Duck \n \n \n \n Glossy Ibis \n \n \n \n Black-headed Ibis \n \n \n \n Black Kite \n \n \n \n Little Grebe \n \n \n \n Red-wattled Lapwing \n \n \n \n Asian Green Bee-eater \n \n \n \n Asian Koel \n \n \n \n Common Tailorbird \n \n \n \n Gray Heron \n \n \n \n Rock Pigeon \n \n \n \n Common Hawk Cuckoo \n \n \n \n Ashy Prinia \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Summary of Walk \n \n \n \n Guided by Francis Anish\, fourteen participants gathered at the Pallikarnai Marshland in Chennai to witness a serene sunrise over one of South India’s most significant wetland ecosystems. This expansive marshland\, an important habitat within the city\, offers a striking contrast of open water\, reed beds and grassy patches that draw an impressive variety of resident and migratory birds. \n\nThe walk showcased a wide array of species\, including Little and Indian Cormorants\, Painted Storks\, Black-winged Stilts\, Blue-tailed Bee-eaters\, and both Common and White-throated Kingfishers. Spot-billed Pelicans were seen perching on electrical towers\, alongside Indian Spot-billed Ducks\, Grey and Purple Herons\, and Yellow-billed Babblers. The standout sightings of the morning were the elusive Greater Painted Snipe\, Wood Sandpipers and Tricoloured Munias\, delighting the group with their rarity. It was a beautifully immersive morning that highlighted the ecological richness thriving within Pallikarnai’s wetlands. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Number of Participants \n \n 0 URL:https://ataavi.org/event/bird-walk-at-ganesh-udhayaan-kota-rajasthan/ CATEGORIES:Birding Bharat ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ataavi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Indian-Pitta.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260816T063000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260816T083000 DTSTAMP:20261024T124353 CREATED:20260807T090042Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260819T052335Z UID:15504-1786861800-1786869000@ataavi.org SUMMARY:Bird Walk at Mullur lake\, Bangalore\, Karnataka DESCRIPTION:Bird Walk at Pallikarnai Marshland\, Chennai\, TN \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Chennai\n \n \n \n \n 29 August\, 2026\n \n \n \n \n Francis Anish\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai is one of the last big freshwater marshes left inside a major Indian metropolis\, hemmed in on all sides by Chennai’s IT corridor along Old Mahabalipuram Road. It is a shadow of its former self — the marsh once spread across some 6\,000 hectares but has been squeezed down to under 600 by decades of landfilling\, road-building\, and unplanned growth — yet what survives is still an internationally important wetland\, formally recognised as a Ramsar site in 2022. Its mix of open water\, reed beds\, and seasonally flooded grassland supports more than 100 recorded fauna species and around 275 plant species\, an extraordinary tally for a site now boxed in by apartment towers on almost every side. \n \n \n \n For birders\, Pallikaranai remains a genuine city-edge spectacle\, drawing waterbirds\, waders\, and raptors that would otherwise have nowhere left to go in urban Chennai. The marsh’s fortunes have been a battleground for years\, with waste dumping by the city corporation\, construction debris\, and pressure from nearby IT campuses steadily chipping away at what is left\, even as eco-restoration work — including a public eco-park opened in 2021 — tries to hold the line. Its Ramsar status has raised its profile considerably\, but conservationists are candid that the gap between protection on paper and protection on the ground remains wide.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird Guide: Francis AnishHe is an ornithologist and avid birdwatcher with over three years of research experience at the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)\, Coimbatore. His work includes research on the Critically Endangered White-bellied Heron\, reflecting his strong interest in bird conservation and ecology. Beyond research\, he regularly explores the field as a passionate birder\, deepening his understanding of bird behavior and habitats. He has also volunteered as a bird expert for the Tamil Nadu Forest Department's raptor survey in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve\, contributing to important wildlife monitoring and conservation efforts.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird walk Location \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Common birds of Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai’s open water and reed beds pack in a lively mix of waterbirds and city-edge regulars\, visible even on a short walk along the marsh boundary. Indian Cormorants and a Spot-billed Pelican work the open water together\, while a Black Drongo watches from a wire and Black-winged Stilts pick through the shallows on impossibly long legs. Egrets are well represented\, with both the Little Egret and Medium Egret stalking the margins alongside an Oriental Darter drying its wings on a snag. Rose-ringed Parakeets screech overhead as Spot-billed Ducks glide across the water\, and the marsh’s ibis population — Glossy Ibis and Black-headed Ibis both — probes the mud for food. A Black Kite circles above\, a Little Grebe dives and resurfaces near the reeds\, and Red-wattled Lapwings call sharply from the open ground. Closer to the marsh edge\, an Asian Green Bee-eater hawks from a low perch\, an Asian Koel calls from nearby trees\, and a Common Tailorbird and Ashy Prinia work the scrub while a Gray Heron stands motionless at the water’s edge — a snapshot of just how much life this shrinking marsh still holds. \n \n \n \n \n Indian Cormorant \n \n \n \n Spot-billed Pelican \n \n \n \n Black Drongo \n \n \n \n Black-winged Stilt \n \n \n \n Little Egret \n \n \n \n Oriental Darter \n \n \n \n Rose-ringed Parakeet \n \n \n \n Indian Spot-billed Duck \n \n \n \n Glossy Ibis \n \n \n \n Black-headed Ibis \n \n \n \n Black Kite \n \n \n \n Little Grebe \n \n \n \n Red-wattled Lapwing \n \n \n \n Asian Green Bee-eater \n \n \n \n Asian Koel \n \n \n \n Common Tailorbird \n \n \n \n Gray Heron \n \n \n \n Rock Pigeon \n \n \n \n Common Hawk Cuckoo \n \n \n \n Ashy Prinia \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Summary of Walk \n \n \n \n Guided by Francis Anish\, fourteen participants gathered at the Pallikarnai Marshland in Chennai to witness a serene sunrise over one of South India’s most significant wetland ecosystems. This expansive marshland\, an important habitat within the city\, offers a striking contrast of open water\, reed beds and grassy patches that draw an impressive variety of resident and migratory birds. \n\nThe walk showcased a wide array of species\, including Little and Indian Cormorants\, Painted Storks\, Black-winged Stilts\, Blue-tailed Bee-eaters\, and both Common and White-throated Kingfishers. Spot-billed Pelicans were seen perching on electrical towers\, alongside Indian Spot-billed Ducks\, Grey and Purple Herons\, and Yellow-billed Babblers. The standout sightings of the morning were the elusive Greater Painted Snipe\, Wood Sandpipers and Tricoloured Munias\, delighting the group with their rarity. It was a beautifully immersive morning that highlighted the ecological richness thriving within Pallikarnai’s wetlands. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Number of Participants \n \n 0 URL:https://ataavi.org/event/bird-walk-at-mullur-lake-bangalore-karnataka-2/ CATEGORIES:Birding Bharat ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ataavi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/IMG-20260816-WA0006.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260816T061500 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260816T081500 DTSTAMP:20261024T124353 CREATED:20260807T091750Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260819T052630Z UID:15523-1786860900-1786868100@ataavi.org SUMMARY:Bird Walk at Rajanukunte lake\, Bengaluru DESCRIPTION:Bird Walk at Pallikarnai Marshland\, Chennai\, TN \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Chennai\n \n \n \n \n 29 August\, 2026\n \n \n \n \n Francis Anish\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai is one of the last big freshwater marshes left inside a major Indian metropolis\, hemmed in on all sides by Chennai’s IT corridor along Old Mahabalipuram Road. It is a shadow of its former self — the marsh once spread across some 6\,000 hectares but has been squeezed down to under 600 by decades of landfilling\, road-building\, and unplanned growth — yet what survives is still an internationally important wetland\, formally recognised as a Ramsar site in 2022. Its mix of open water\, reed beds\, and seasonally flooded grassland supports more than 100 recorded fauna species and around 275 plant species\, an extraordinary tally for a site now boxed in by apartment towers on almost every side. \n \n \n \n For birders\, Pallikaranai remains a genuine city-edge spectacle\, drawing waterbirds\, waders\, and raptors that would otherwise have nowhere left to go in urban Chennai. The marsh’s fortunes have been a battleground for years\, with waste dumping by the city corporation\, construction debris\, and pressure from nearby IT campuses steadily chipping away at what is left\, even as eco-restoration work — including a public eco-park opened in 2021 — tries to hold the line. Its Ramsar status has raised its profile considerably\, but conservationists are candid that the gap between protection on paper and protection on the ground remains wide.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird Guide: Francis AnishHe is an ornithologist and avid birdwatcher with over three years of research experience at the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)\, Coimbatore. His work includes research on the Critically Endangered White-bellied Heron\, reflecting his strong interest in bird conservation and ecology. Beyond research\, he regularly explores the field as a passionate birder\, deepening his understanding of bird behavior and habitats. He has also volunteered as a bird expert for the Tamil Nadu Forest Department's raptor survey in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve\, contributing to important wildlife monitoring and conservation efforts.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird walk Location \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Common birds of Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai’s open water and reed beds pack in a lively mix of waterbirds and city-edge regulars\, visible even on a short walk along the marsh boundary. Indian Cormorants and a Spot-billed Pelican work the open water together\, while a Black Drongo watches from a wire and Black-winged Stilts pick through the shallows on impossibly long legs. Egrets are well represented\, with both the Little Egret and Medium Egret stalking the margins alongside an Oriental Darter drying its wings on a snag. Rose-ringed Parakeets screech overhead as Spot-billed Ducks glide across the water\, and the marsh’s ibis population — Glossy Ibis and Black-headed Ibis both — probes the mud for food. A Black Kite circles above\, a Little Grebe dives and resurfaces near the reeds\, and Red-wattled Lapwings call sharply from the open ground. Closer to the marsh edge\, an Asian Green Bee-eater hawks from a low perch\, an Asian Koel calls from nearby trees\, and a Common Tailorbird and Ashy Prinia work the scrub while a Gray Heron stands motionless at the water’s edge — a snapshot of just how much life this shrinking marsh still holds. \n \n \n \n \n Indian Cormorant \n \n \n \n Spot-billed Pelican \n \n \n \n Black Drongo \n \n \n \n Black-winged Stilt \n \n \n \n Little Egret \n \n \n \n Oriental Darter \n \n \n \n Rose-ringed Parakeet \n \n \n \n Indian Spot-billed Duck \n \n \n \n Glossy Ibis \n \n \n \n Black-headed Ibis \n \n \n \n Black Kite \n \n \n \n Little Grebe \n \n \n \n Red-wattled Lapwing \n \n \n \n Asian Green Bee-eater \n \n \n \n Asian Koel \n \n \n \n Common Tailorbird \n \n \n \n Gray Heron \n \n \n \n Rock Pigeon \n \n \n \n Common Hawk Cuckoo \n \n \n \n Ashy Prinia \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Summary of Walk \n \n \n \n Guided by Francis Anish\, fourteen participants gathered at the Pallikarnai Marshland in Chennai to witness a serene sunrise over one of South India’s most significant wetland ecosystems. This expansive marshland\, an important habitat within the city\, offers a striking contrast of open water\, reed beds and grassy patches that draw an impressive variety of resident and migratory birds. \n\nThe walk showcased a wide array of species\, including Little and Indian Cormorants\, Painted Storks\, Black-winged Stilts\, Blue-tailed Bee-eaters\, and both Common and White-throated Kingfishers. Spot-billed Pelicans were seen perching on electrical towers\, alongside Indian Spot-billed Ducks\, Grey and Purple Herons\, and Yellow-billed Babblers. The standout sightings of the morning were the elusive Greater Painted Snipe\, Wood Sandpipers and Tricoloured Munias\, delighting the group with their rarity. It was a beautifully immersive morning that highlighted the ecological richness thriving within Pallikarnai’s wetlands. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Number of Participants \n \n 0 URL:https://ataavi.org/event/bird-walk-at-rajanukunte-lake-bengaluru/ CATEGORIES:Birding Bharat ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ataavi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/IMG_7199-scaled.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260816T060000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260816T080000 DTSTAMP:20261024T124353 CREATED:20260807T100417Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260819T081314Z UID:15584-1786860000-1786867200@ataavi.org SUMMARY:Bird Walk at Shela Godhavi Canal\, Ahmedabad\, Gujarat DESCRIPTION:Bird Walk at Pallikarnai Marshland\, Chennai\, TN \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Chennai\n \n \n \n \n 29 August\, 2026\n \n \n \n \n Francis Anish\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai is one of the last big freshwater marshes left inside a major Indian metropolis\, hemmed in on all sides by Chennai’s IT corridor along Old Mahabalipuram Road. It is a shadow of its former self — the marsh once spread across some 6\,000 hectares but has been squeezed down to under 600 by decades of landfilling\, road-building\, and unplanned growth — yet what survives is still an internationally important wetland\, formally recognised as a Ramsar site in 2022. Its mix of open water\, reed beds\, and seasonally flooded grassland supports more than 100 recorded fauna species and around 275 plant species\, an extraordinary tally for a site now boxed in by apartment towers on almost every side. \n \n \n \n For birders\, Pallikaranai remains a genuine city-edge spectacle\, drawing waterbirds\, waders\, and raptors that would otherwise have nowhere left to go in urban Chennai. The marsh’s fortunes have been a battleground for years\, with waste dumping by the city corporation\, construction debris\, and pressure from nearby IT campuses steadily chipping away at what is left\, even as eco-restoration work — including a public eco-park opened in 2021 — tries to hold the line. Its Ramsar status has raised its profile considerably\, but conservationists are candid that the gap between protection on paper and protection on the ground remains wide.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird Guide: Francis AnishHe is an ornithologist and avid birdwatcher with over three years of research experience at the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)\, Coimbatore. His work includes research on the Critically Endangered White-bellied Heron\, reflecting his strong interest in bird conservation and ecology. Beyond research\, he regularly explores the field as a passionate birder\, deepening his understanding of bird behavior and habitats. He has also volunteered as a bird expert for the Tamil Nadu Forest Department's raptor survey in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve\, contributing to important wildlife monitoring and conservation efforts.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird walk Location \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Common birds of Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai’s open water and reed beds pack in a lively mix of waterbirds and city-edge regulars\, visible even on a short walk along the marsh boundary. Indian Cormorants and a Spot-billed Pelican work the open water together\, while a Black Drongo watches from a wire and Black-winged Stilts pick through the shallows on impossibly long legs. Egrets are well represented\, with both the Little Egret and Medium Egret stalking the margins alongside an Oriental Darter drying its wings on a snag. Rose-ringed Parakeets screech overhead as Spot-billed Ducks glide across the water\, and the marsh’s ibis population — Glossy Ibis and Black-headed Ibis both — probes the mud for food. A Black Kite circles above\, a Little Grebe dives and resurfaces near the reeds\, and Red-wattled Lapwings call sharply from the open ground. Closer to the marsh edge\, an Asian Green Bee-eater hawks from a low perch\, an Asian Koel calls from nearby trees\, and a Common Tailorbird and Ashy Prinia work the scrub while a Gray Heron stands motionless at the water’s edge — a snapshot of just how much life this shrinking marsh still holds. \n \n \n \n \n Indian Cormorant \n \n \n \n Spot-billed Pelican \n \n \n \n Black Drongo \n \n \n \n Black-winged Stilt \n \n \n \n Little Egret \n \n \n \n Oriental Darter \n \n \n \n Rose-ringed Parakeet \n \n \n \n Indian Spot-billed Duck \n \n \n \n Glossy Ibis \n \n \n \n Black-headed Ibis \n \n \n \n Black Kite \n \n \n \n Little Grebe \n \n \n \n Red-wattled Lapwing \n \n \n \n Asian Green Bee-eater \n \n \n \n Asian Koel \n \n \n \n Common Tailorbird \n \n \n \n Gray Heron \n \n \n \n Rock Pigeon \n \n \n \n Common Hawk Cuckoo \n \n \n \n Ashy Prinia \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Summary of Walk \n \n \n \n Guided by Francis Anish\, fourteen participants gathered at the Pallikarnai Marshland in Chennai to witness a serene sunrise over one of South India’s most significant wetland ecosystems. This expansive marshland\, an important habitat within the city\, offers a striking contrast of open water\, reed beds and grassy patches that draw an impressive variety of resident and migratory birds. \n\nThe walk showcased a wide array of species\, including Little and Indian Cormorants\, Painted Storks\, Black-winged Stilts\, Blue-tailed Bee-eaters\, and both Common and White-throated Kingfishers. Spot-billed Pelicans were seen perching on electrical towers\, alongside Indian Spot-billed Ducks\, Grey and Purple Herons\, and Yellow-billed Babblers. The standout sightings of the morning were the elusive Greater Painted Snipe\, Wood Sandpipers and Tricoloured Munias\, delighting the group with their rarity. It was a beautifully immersive morning that highlighted the ecological richness thriving within Pallikarnai’s wetlands. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Number of Participants \n \n 0 URL:https://ataavi.org/event/bird-walk-at-shela-godhavi-canal-ahmedabad-gujarat/ CATEGORIES:Birding Bharat ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ataavi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WhatsApp-Image-2026-08-16-at-10.40.00-AM-scaled.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260816T060000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260816T080000 DTSTAMP:20261024T124353 CREATED:20260807T095408Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260819T053001Z UID:15575-1786860000-1786867200@ataavi.org SUMMARY:Bird Walk at Amrut Biodiversity Park\, New Delhi DESCRIPTION:Bird Walk at Pallikarnai Marshland\, Chennai\, TN \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Chennai\n \n \n \n \n 29 August\, 2026\n \n \n \n \n Francis Anish\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai is one of the last big freshwater marshes left inside a major Indian metropolis\, hemmed in on all sides by Chennai’s IT corridor along Old Mahabalipuram Road. It is a shadow of its former self — the marsh once spread across some 6\,000 hectares but has been squeezed down to under 600 by decades of landfilling\, road-building\, and unplanned growth — yet what survives is still an internationally important wetland\, formally recognised as a Ramsar site in 2022. Its mix of open water\, reed beds\, and seasonally flooded grassland supports more than 100 recorded fauna species and around 275 plant species\, an extraordinary tally for a site now boxed in by apartment towers on almost every side. \n \n \n \n For birders\, Pallikaranai remains a genuine city-edge spectacle\, drawing waterbirds\, waders\, and raptors that would otherwise have nowhere left to go in urban Chennai. The marsh’s fortunes have been a battleground for years\, with waste dumping by the city corporation\, construction debris\, and pressure from nearby IT campuses steadily chipping away at what is left\, even as eco-restoration work — including a public eco-park opened in 2021 — tries to hold the line. Its Ramsar status has raised its profile considerably\, but conservationists are candid that the gap between protection on paper and protection on the ground remains wide.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird Guide: Francis AnishHe is an ornithologist and avid birdwatcher with over three years of research experience at the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)\, Coimbatore. His work includes research on the Critically Endangered White-bellied Heron\, reflecting his strong interest in bird conservation and ecology. Beyond research\, he regularly explores the field as a passionate birder\, deepening his understanding of bird behavior and habitats. He has also volunteered as a bird expert for the Tamil Nadu Forest Department's raptor survey in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve\, contributing to important wildlife monitoring and conservation efforts.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird walk Location \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Common birds of Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai’s open water and reed beds pack in a lively mix of waterbirds and city-edge regulars\, visible even on a short walk along the marsh boundary. Indian Cormorants and a Spot-billed Pelican work the open water together\, while a Black Drongo watches from a wire and Black-winged Stilts pick through the shallows on impossibly long legs. Egrets are well represented\, with both the Little Egret and Medium Egret stalking the margins alongside an Oriental Darter drying its wings on a snag. Rose-ringed Parakeets screech overhead as Spot-billed Ducks glide across the water\, and the marsh’s ibis population — Glossy Ibis and Black-headed Ibis both — probes the mud for food. A Black Kite circles above\, a Little Grebe dives and resurfaces near the reeds\, and Red-wattled Lapwings call sharply from the open ground. Closer to the marsh edge\, an Asian Green Bee-eater hawks from a low perch\, an Asian Koel calls from nearby trees\, and a Common Tailorbird and Ashy Prinia work the scrub while a Gray Heron stands motionless at the water’s edge — a snapshot of just how much life this shrinking marsh still holds. \n \n \n \n \n Indian Cormorant \n \n \n \n Spot-billed Pelican \n \n \n \n Black Drongo \n \n \n \n Black-winged Stilt \n \n \n \n Little Egret \n \n \n \n Oriental Darter \n \n \n \n Rose-ringed Parakeet \n \n \n \n Indian Spot-billed Duck \n \n \n \n Glossy Ibis \n \n \n \n Black-headed Ibis \n \n \n \n Black Kite \n \n \n \n Little Grebe \n \n \n \n Red-wattled Lapwing \n \n \n \n Asian Green Bee-eater \n \n \n \n Asian Koel \n \n \n \n Common Tailorbird \n \n \n \n Gray Heron \n \n \n \n Rock Pigeon \n \n \n \n Common Hawk Cuckoo \n \n \n \n Ashy Prinia \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Summary of Walk \n \n \n \n Guided by Francis Anish\, fourteen participants gathered at the Pallikarnai Marshland in Chennai to witness a serene sunrise over one of South India’s most significant wetland ecosystems. This expansive marshland\, an important habitat within the city\, offers a striking contrast of open water\, reed beds and grassy patches that draw an impressive variety of resident and migratory birds. \n\nThe walk showcased a wide array of species\, including Little and Indian Cormorants\, Painted Storks\, Black-winged Stilts\, Blue-tailed Bee-eaters\, and both Common and White-throated Kingfishers. Spot-billed Pelicans were seen perching on electrical towers\, alongside Indian Spot-billed Ducks\, Grey and Purple Herons\, and Yellow-billed Babblers. The standout sightings of the morning were the elusive Greater Painted Snipe\, Wood Sandpipers and Tricoloured Munias\, delighting the group with their rarity. It was a beautifully immersive morning that highlighted the ecological richness thriving within Pallikarnai’s wetlands. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Number of Participants \n \n 0 URL:https://ataavi.org/event/bird-walk-at-amrut-biodiversity-park-new-delhi/ CATEGORIES:Birding Bharat ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ataavi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/IMG-20260816-WA0020-scaled.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260816T060000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260816T080000 DTSTAMP:20261024T124353 CREATED:20260807T095003Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260819T053231Z UID:15570-1786860000-1786867200@ataavi.org SUMMARY:Bird Walk at Bidre Lake (Bannerghatta Road)\, Bengaluru DESCRIPTION:Bird Walk at Pallikarnai Marshland\, Chennai\, TN \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Chennai\n \n \n \n \n 29 August\, 2026\n \n \n \n \n Francis Anish\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai is one of the last big freshwater marshes left inside a major Indian metropolis\, hemmed in on all sides by Chennai’s IT corridor along Old Mahabalipuram Road. It is a shadow of its former self — the marsh once spread across some 6\,000 hectares but has been squeezed down to under 600 by decades of landfilling\, road-building\, and unplanned growth — yet what survives is still an internationally important wetland\, formally recognised as a Ramsar site in 2022. Its mix of open water\, reed beds\, and seasonally flooded grassland supports more than 100 recorded fauna species and around 275 plant species\, an extraordinary tally for a site now boxed in by apartment towers on almost every side. \n \n \n \n For birders\, Pallikaranai remains a genuine city-edge spectacle\, drawing waterbirds\, waders\, and raptors that would otherwise have nowhere left to go in urban Chennai. The marsh’s fortunes have been a battleground for years\, with waste dumping by the city corporation\, construction debris\, and pressure from nearby IT campuses steadily chipping away at what is left\, even as eco-restoration work — including a public eco-park opened in 2021 — tries to hold the line. Its Ramsar status has raised its profile considerably\, but conservationists are candid that the gap between protection on paper and protection on the ground remains wide.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird Guide: Francis AnishHe is an ornithologist and avid birdwatcher with over three years of research experience at the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)\, Coimbatore. His work includes research on the Critically Endangered White-bellied Heron\, reflecting his strong interest in bird conservation and ecology. Beyond research\, he regularly explores the field as a passionate birder\, deepening his understanding of bird behavior and habitats. He has also volunteered as a bird expert for the Tamil Nadu Forest Department's raptor survey in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve\, contributing to important wildlife monitoring and conservation efforts.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird walk Location \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Common birds of Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai’s open water and reed beds pack in a lively mix of waterbirds and city-edge regulars\, visible even on a short walk along the marsh boundary. Indian Cormorants and a Spot-billed Pelican work the open water together\, while a Black Drongo watches from a wire and Black-winged Stilts pick through the shallows on impossibly long legs. Egrets are well represented\, with both the Little Egret and Medium Egret stalking the margins alongside an Oriental Darter drying its wings on a snag. Rose-ringed Parakeets screech overhead as Spot-billed Ducks glide across the water\, and the marsh’s ibis population — Glossy Ibis and Black-headed Ibis both — probes the mud for food. A Black Kite circles above\, a Little Grebe dives and resurfaces near the reeds\, and Red-wattled Lapwings call sharply from the open ground. Closer to the marsh edge\, an Asian Green Bee-eater hawks from a low perch\, an Asian Koel calls from nearby trees\, and a Common Tailorbird and Ashy Prinia work the scrub while a Gray Heron stands motionless at the water’s edge — a snapshot of just how much life this shrinking marsh still holds. \n \n \n \n \n Indian Cormorant \n \n \n \n Spot-billed Pelican \n \n \n \n Black Drongo \n \n \n \n Black-winged Stilt \n \n \n \n Little Egret \n \n \n \n Oriental Darter \n \n \n \n Rose-ringed Parakeet \n \n \n \n Indian Spot-billed Duck \n \n \n \n Glossy Ibis \n \n \n \n Black-headed Ibis \n \n \n \n Black Kite \n \n \n \n Little Grebe \n \n \n \n Red-wattled Lapwing \n \n \n \n Asian Green Bee-eater \n \n \n \n Asian Koel \n \n \n \n Common Tailorbird \n \n \n \n Gray Heron \n \n \n \n Rock Pigeon \n \n \n \n Common Hawk Cuckoo \n \n \n \n Ashy Prinia \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Summary of Walk \n \n \n \n Guided by Francis Anish\, fourteen participants gathered at the Pallikarnai Marshland in Chennai to witness a serene sunrise over one of South India’s most significant wetland ecosystems. This expansive marshland\, an important habitat within the city\, offers a striking contrast of open water\, reed beds and grassy patches that draw an impressive variety of resident and migratory birds. \n\nThe walk showcased a wide array of species\, including Little and Indian Cormorants\, Painted Storks\, Black-winged Stilts\, Blue-tailed Bee-eaters\, and both Common and White-throated Kingfishers. Spot-billed Pelicans were seen perching on electrical towers\, alongside Indian Spot-billed Ducks\, Grey and Purple Herons\, and Yellow-billed Babblers. The standout sightings of the morning were the elusive Greater Painted Snipe\, Wood Sandpipers and Tricoloured Munias\, delighting the group with their rarity. It was a beautifully immersive morning that highlighted the ecological richness thriving within Pallikarnai’s wetlands. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Number of Participants \n \n 0 URL:https://ataavi.org/event/bird-walk-at-bidre-lake-bannerghatta-road-bengaluru-2/ CATEGORIES:Birding Bharat ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ataavi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/IMG_20260816_073837-1-scaled.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260815T073000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260815T093000 DTSTAMP:20261024T124353 CREATED:20260807T093318Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260819T053711Z UID:15543-1786779000-1786786200@ataavi.org SUMMARY:Bird Walk at Neura Wetland\, Goa DESCRIPTION:Bird Walk at Pallikarnai Marshland\, Chennai\, TN \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Chennai\n \n \n \n \n 29 August\, 2026\n \n \n \n \n Francis Anish\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai is one of the last big freshwater marshes left inside a major Indian metropolis\, hemmed in on all sides by Chennai’s IT corridor along Old Mahabalipuram Road. It is a shadow of its former self — the marsh once spread across some 6\,000 hectares but has been squeezed down to under 600 by decades of landfilling\, road-building\, and unplanned growth — yet what survives is still an internationally important wetland\, formally recognised as a Ramsar site in 2022. Its mix of open water\, reed beds\, and seasonally flooded grassland supports more than 100 recorded fauna species and around 275 plant species\, an extraordinary tally for a site now boxed in by apartment towers on almost every side. \n \n \n \n For birders\, Pallikaranai remains a genuine city-edge spectacle\, drawing waterbirds\, waders\, and raptors that would otherwise have nowhere left to go in urban Chennai. The marsh’s fortunes have been a battleground for years\, with waste dumping by the city corporation\, construction debris\, and pressure from nearby IT campuses steadily chipping away at what is left\, even as eco-restoration work — including a public eco-park opened in 2021 — tries to hold the line. Its Ramsar status has raised its profile considerably\, but conservationists are candid that the gap between protection on paper and protection on the ground remains wide.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird Guide: Francis AnishHe is an ornithologist and avid birdwatcher with over three years of research experience at the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)\, Coimbatore. His work includes research on the Critically Endangered White-bellied Heron\, reflecting his strong interest in bird conservation and ecology. Beyond research\, he regularly explores the field as a passionate birder\, deepening his understanding of bird behavior and habitats. He has also volunteered as a bird expert for the Tamil Nadu Forest Department's raptor survey in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve\, contributing to important wildlife monitoring and conservation efforts.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird walk Location \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Common birds of Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai’s open water and reed beds pack in a lively mix of waterbirds and city-edge regulars\, visible even on a short walk along the marsh boundary. Indian Cormorants and a Spot-billed Pelican work the open water together\, while a Black Drongo watches from a wire and Black-winged Stilts pick through the shallows on impossibly long legs. Egrets are well represented\, with both the Little Egret and Medium Egret stalking the margins alongside an Oriental Darter drying its wings on a snag. Rose-ringed Parakeets screech overhead as Spot-billed Ducks glide across the water\, and the marsh’s ibis population — Glossy Ibis and Black-headed Ibis both — probes the mud for food. A Black Kite circles above\, a Little Grebe dives and resurfaces near the reeds\, and Red-wattled Lapwings call sharply from the open ground. Closer to the marsh edge\, an Asian Green Bee-eater hawks from a low perch\, an Asian Koel calls from nearby trees\, and a Common Tailorbird and Ashy Prinia work the scrub while a Gray Heron stands motionless at the water’s edge — a snapshot of just how much life this shrinking marsh still holds. \n \n \n \n \n Indian Cormorant \n \n \n \n Spot-billed Pelican \n \n \n \n Black Drongo \n \n \n \n Black-winged Stilt \n \n \n \n Little Egret \n \n \n \n Oriental Darter \n \n \n \n Rose-ringed Parakeet \n \n \n \n Indian Spot-billed Duck \n \n \n \n Glossy Ibis \n \n \n \n Black-headed Ibis \n \n \n \n Black Kite \n \n \n \n Little Grebe \n \n \n \n Red-wattled Lapwing \n \n \n \n Asian Green Bee-eater \n \n \n \n Asian Koel \n \n \n \n Common Tailorbird \n \n \n \n Gray Heron \n \n \n \n Rock Pigeon \n \n \n \n Common Hawk Cuckoo \n \n \n \n Ashy Prinia \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Summary of Walk \n \n \n \n Guided by Francis Anish\, fourteen participants gathered at the Pallikarnai Marshland in Chennai to witness a serene sunrise over one of South India’s most significant wetland ecosystems. This expansive marshland\, an important habitat within the city\, offers a striking contrast of open water\, reed beds and grassy patches that draw an impressive variety of resident and migratory birds. \n\nThe walk showcased a wide array of species\, including Little and Indian Cormorants\, Painted Storks\, Black-winged Stilts\, Blue-tailed Bee-eaters\, and both Common and White-throated Kingfishers. Spot-billed Pelicans were seen perching on electrical towers\, alongside Indian Spot-billed Ducks\, Grey and Purple Herons\, and Yellow-billed Babblers. The standout sightings of the morning were the elusive Greater Painted Snipe\, Wood Sandpipers and Tricoloured Munias\, delighting the group with their rarity. It was a beautifully immersive morning that highlighted the ecological richness thriving within Pallikarnai’s wetlands. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Number of Participants \n \n 0 URL:https://ataavi.org/event/bird-walk-at-neura-wetland-goa/ CATEGORIES:Birding Bharat ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ataavi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/IMG-20260815-WA0049-scaled.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260815T070000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260815T090000 DTSTAMP:20261024T124353 CREATED:20260807T091424Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260819T082026Z UID:15519-1786777200-1786784400@ataavi.org SUMMARY:Bird Walk at Ambazari Biodiversity Park\, Nagpur\, Maharashtra DESCRIPTION:Bird Walk at Pallikarnai Marshland\, Chennai\, TN \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Chennai\n \n \n \n \n 29 August\, 2026\n \n \n \n \n Francis Anish\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai is one of the last big freshwater marshes left inside a major Indian metropolis\, hemmed in on all sides by Chennai’s IT corridor along Old Mahabalipuram Road. It is a shadow of its former self — the marsh once spread across some 6\,000 hectares but has been squeezed down to under 600 by decades of landfilling\, road-building\, and unplanned growth — yet what survives is still an internationally important wetland\, formally recognised as a Ramsar site in 2022. Its mix of open water\, reed beds\, and seasonally flooded grassland supports more than 100 recorded fauna species and around 275 plant species\, an extraordinary tally for a site now boxed in by apartment towers on almost every side. \n \n \n \n For birders\, Pallikaranai remains a genuine city-edge spectacle\, drawing waterbirds\, waders\, and raptors that would otherwise have nowhere left to go in urban Chennai. The marsh’s fortunes have been a battleground for years\, with waste dumping by the city corporation\, construction debris\, and pressure from nearby IT campuses steadily chipping away at what is left\, even as eco-restoration work — including a public eco-park opened in 2021 — tries to hold the line. Its Ramsar status has raised its profile considerably\, but conservationists are candid that the gap between protection on paper and protection on the ground remains wide.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird Guide: Francis AnishHe is an ornithologist and avid birdwatcher with over three years of research experience at the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)\, Coimbatore. His work includes research on the Critically Endangered White-bellied Heron\, reflecting his strong interest in bird conservation and ecology. Beyond research\, he regularly explores the field as a passionate birder\, deepening his understanding of bird behavior and habitats. He has also volunteered as a bird expert for the Tamil Nadu Forest Department's raptor survey in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve\, contributing to important wildlife monitoring and conservation efforts.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird walk Location \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Common birds of Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai’s open water and reed beds pack in a lively mix of waterbirds and city-edge regulars\, visible even on a short walk along the marsh boundary. Indian Cormorants and a Spot-billed Pelican work the open water together\, while a Black Drongo watches from a wire and Black-winged Stilts pick through the shallows on impossibly long legs. Egrets are well represented\, with both the Little Egret and Medium Egret stalking the margins alongside an Oriental Darter drying its wings on a snag. Rose-ringed Parakeets screech overhead as Spot-billed Ducks glide across the water\, and the marsh’s ibis population — Glossy Ibis and Black-headed Ibis both — probes the mud for food. A Black Kite circles above\, a Little Grebe dives and resurfaces near the reeds\, and Red-wattled Lapwings call sharply from the open ground. Closer to the marsh edge\, an Asian Green Bee-eater hawks from a low perch\, an Asian Koel calls from nearby trees\, and a Common Tailorbird and Ashy Prinia work the scrub while a Gray Heron stands motionless at the water’s edge — a snapshot of just how much life this shrinking marsh still holds. \n \n \n \n \n Indian Cormorant \n \n \n \n Spot-billed Pelican \n \n \n \n Black Drongo \n \n \n \n Black-winged Stilt \n \n \n \n Little Egret \n \n \n \n Oriental Darter \n \n \n \n Rose-ringed Parakeet \n \n \n \n Indian Spot-billed Duck \n \n \n \n Glossy Ibis \n \n \n \n Black-headed Ibis \n \n \n \n Black Kite \n \n \n \n Little Grebe \n \n \n \n Red-wattled Lapwing \n \n \n \n Asian Green Bee-eater \n \n \n \n Asian Koel \n \n \n \n Common Tailorbird \n \n \n \n Gray Heron \n \n \n \n Rock Pigeon \n \n \n \n Common Hawk Cuckoo \n \n \n \n Ashy Prinia \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Summary of Walk \n \n \n \n Guided by Francis Anish\, fourteen participants gathered at the Pallikarnai Marshland in Chennai to witness a serene sunrise over one of South India’s most significant wetland ecosystems. This expansive marshland\, an important habitat within the city\, offers a striking contrast of open water\, reed beds and grassy patches that draw an impressive variety of resident and migratory birds. \n\nThe walk showcased a wide array of species\, including Little and Indian Cormorants\, Painted Storks\, Black-winged Stilts\, Blue-tailed Bee-eaters\, and both Common and White-throated Kingfishers. Spot-billed Pelicans were seen perching on electrical towers\, alongside Indian Spot-billed Ducks\, Grey and Purple Herons\, and Yellow-billed Babblers. The standout sightings of the morning were the elusive Greater Painted Snipe\, Wood Sandpipers and Tricoloured Munias\, delighting the group with their rarity. It was a beautifully immersive morning that highlighted the ecological richness thriving within Pallikarnai’s wetlands. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Number of Participants \n \n 0 URL:https://ataavi.org/event/bird-walk-at-ambazari-biodiversity-park-nagpur-maharashtra-da/ CATEGORIES:Birding Bharat ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ataavi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WhatsApp-Image-2026-08-16-at-11.02.06-AM.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260815T070000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260815T090000 DTSTAMP:20261024T124353 CREATED:20260807T070905Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260819T054017Z UID:15467-1786777200-1786784400@ataavi.org SUMMARY:Bird Walk at Kurichi Kulam\, Coimbatore\, Tamil Nadu DESCRIPTION:Bird Walk at Pallikarnai Marshland\, Chennai\, TN \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Chennai\n \n \n \n \n 29 August\, 2026\n \n \n \n \n Francis Anish\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai is one of the last big freshwater marshes left inside a major Indian metropolis\, hemmed in on all sides by Chennai’s IT corridor along Old Mahabalipuram Road. It is a shadow of its former self — the marsh once spread across some 6\,000 hectares but has been squeezed down to under 600 by decades of landfilling\, road-building\, and unplanned growth — yet what survives is still an internationally important wetland\, formally recognised as a Ramsar site in 2022. Its mix of open water\, reed beds\, and seasonally flooded grassland supports more than 100 recorded fauna species and around 275 plant species\, an extraordinary tally for a site now boxed in by apartment towers on almost every side. \n \n \n \n For birders\, Pallikaranai remains a genuine city-edge spectacle\, drawing waterbirds\, waders\, and raptors that would otherwise have nowhere left to go in urban Chennai. The marsh’s fortunes have been a battleground for years\, with waste dumping by the city corporation\, construction debris\, and pressure from nearby IT campuses steadily chipping away at what is left\, even as eco-restoration work — including a public eco-park opened in 2021 — tries to hold the line. Its Ramsar status has raised its profile considerably\, but conservationists are candid that the gap between protection on paper and protection on the ground remains wide.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird Guide: Francis AnishHe is an ornithologist and avid birdwatcher with over three years of research experience at the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)\, Coimbatore. His work includes research on the Critically Endangered White-bellied Heron\, reflecting his strong interest in bird conservation and ecology. Beyond research\, he regularly explores the field as a passionate birder\, deepening his understanding of bird behavior and habitats. He has also volunteered as a bird expert for the Tamil Nadu Forest Department's raptor survey in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve\, contributing to important wildlife monitoring and conservation efforts.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird walk Location \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Common birds of Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai’s open water and reed beds pack in a lively mix of waterbirds and city-edge regulars\, visible even on a short walk along the marsh boundary. Indian Cormorants and a Spot-billed Pelican work the open water together\, while a Black Drongo watches from a wire and Black-winged Stilts pick through the shallows on impossibly long legs. Egrets are well represented\, with both the Little Egret and Medium Egret stalking the margins alongside an Oriental Darter drying its wings on a snag. Rose-ringed Parakeets screech overhead as Spot-billed Ducks glide across the water\, and the marsh’s ibis population — Glossy Ibis and Black-headed Ibis both — probes the mud for food. A Black Kite circles above\, a Little Grebe dives and resurfaces near the reeds\, and Red-wattled Lapwings call sharply from the open ground. Closer to the marsh edge\, an Asian Green Bee-eater hawks from a low perch\, an Asian Koel calls from nearby trees\, and a Common Tailorbird and Ashy Prinia work the scrub while a Gray Heron stands motionless at the water’s edge — a snapshot of just how much life this shrinking marsh still holds. \n \n \n \n \n Indian Cormorant \n \n \n \n Spot-billed Pelican \n \n \n \n Black Drongo \n \n \n \n Black-winged Stilt \n \n \n \n Little Egret \n \n \n \n Oriental Darter \n \n \n \n Rose-ringed Parakeet \n \n \n \n Indian Spot-billed Duck \n \n \n \n Glossy Ibis \n \n \n \n Black-headed Ibis \n \n \n \n Black Kite \n \n \n \n Little Grebe \n \n \n \n Red-wattled Lapwing \n \n \n \n Asian Green Bee-eater \n \n \n \n Asian Koel \n \n \n \n Common Tailorbird \n \n \n \n Gray Heron \n \n \n \n Rock Pigeon \n \n \n \n Common Hawk Cuckoo \n \n \n \n Ashy Prinia \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Summary of Walk \n \n \n \n Guided by Francis Anish\, fourteen participants gathered at the Pallikarnai Marshland in Chennai to witness a serene sunrise over one of South India’s most significant wetland ecosystems. This expansive marshland\, an important habitat within the city\, offers a striking contrast of open water\, reed beds and grassy patches that draw an impressive variety of resident and migratory birds. \n\nThe walk showcased a wide array of species\, including Little and Indian Cormorants\, Painted Storks\, Black-winged Stilts\, Blue-tailed Bee-eaters\, and both Common and White-throated Kingfishers. Spot-billed Pelicans were seen perching on electrical towers\, alongside Indian Spot-billed Ducks\, Grey and Purple Herons\, and Yellow-billed Babblers. The standout sightings of the morning were the elusive Greater Painted Snipe\, Wood Sandpipers and Tricoloured Munias\, delighting the group with their rarity. It was a beautifully immersive morning that highlighted the ecological richness thriving within Pallikarnai’s wetlands. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Number of Participants \n \n 0 URL:https://ataavi.org/event/bird-walk-at-kurichi-kulam-coimbatore-tamil-nadu/ CATEGORIES:Birding Bharat ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ataavi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/PXL_20260815_022550751-scaled.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260815T063000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260815T083000 DTSTAMP:20261024T124353 CREATED:20260807T112932Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260819T054214Z UID:15612-1786775400-1786782600@ataavi.org SUMMARY:Bird Walk at Kommaghatta Lake\, Bengaluru DESCRIPTION:Bird Walk at Pallikarnai Marshland\, Chennai\, TN \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Chennai\n \n \n \n \n 29 August\, 2026\n \n \n \n \n Francis Anish\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai is one of the last big freshwater marshes left inside a major Indian metropolis\, hemmed in on all sides by Chennai’s IT corridor along Old Mahabalipuram Road. It is a shadow of its former self — the marsh once spread across some 6\,000 hectares but has been squeezed down to under 600 by decades of landfilling\, road-building\, and unplanned growth — yet what survives is still an internationally important wetland\, formally recognised as a Ramsar site in 2022. Its mix of open water\, reed beds\, and seasonally flooded grassland supports more than 100 recorded fauna species and around 275 plant species\, an extraordinary tally for a site now boxed in by apartment towers on almost every side. \n \n \n \n For birders\, Pallikaranai remains a genuine city-edge spectacle\, drawing waterbirds\, waders\, and raptors that would otherwise have nowhere left to go in urban Chennai. The marsh’s fortunes have been a battleground for years\, with waste dumping by the city corporation\, construction debris\, and pressure from nearby IT campuses steadily chipping away at what is left\, even as eco-restoration work — including a public eco-park opened in 2021 — tries to hold the line. Its Ramsar status has raised its profile considerably\, but conservationists are candid that the gap between protection on paper and protection on the ground remains wide.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird Guide: Francis AnishHe is an ornithologist and avid birdwatcher with over three years of research experience at the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)\, Coimbatore. His work includes research on the Critically Endangered White-bellied Heron\, reflecting his strong interest in bird conservation and ecology. Beyond research\, he regularly explores the field as a passionate birder\, deepening his understanding of bird behavior and habitats. He has also volunteered as a bird expert for the Tamil Nadu Forest Department's raptor survey in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve\, contributing to important wildlife monitoring and conservation efforts.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird walk Location \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Common birds of Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai’s open water and reed beds pack in a lively mix of waterbirds and city-edge regulars\, visible even on a short walk along the marsh boundary. Indian Cormorants and a Spot-billed Pelican work the open water together\, while a Black Drongo watches from a wire and Black-winged Stilts pick through the shallows on impossibly long legs. Egrets are well represented\, with both the Little Egret and Medium Egret stalking the margins alongside an Oriental Darter drying its wings on a snag. Rose-ringed Parakeets screech overhead as Spot-billed Ducks glide across the water\, and the marsh’s ibis population — Glossy Ibis and Black-headed Ibis both — probes the mud for food. A Black Kite circles above\, a Little Grebe dives and resurfaces near the reeds\, and Red-wattled Lapwings call sharply from the open ground. Closer to the marsh edge\, an Asian Green Bee-eater hawks from a low perch\, an Asian Koel calls from nearby trees\, and a Common Tailorbird and Ashy Prinia work the scrub while a Gray Heron stands motionless at the water’s edge — a snapshot of just how much life this shrinking marsh still holds. \n \n \n \n \n Indian Cormorant \n \n \n \n Spot-billed Pelican \n \n \n \n Black Drongo \n \n \n \n Black-winged Stilt \n \n \n \n Little Egret \n \n \n \n Oriental Darter \n \n \n \n Rose-ringed Parakeet \n \n \n \n Indian Spot-billed Duck \n \n \n \n Glossy Ibis \n \n \n \n Black-headed Ibis \n \n \n \n Black Kite \n \n \n \n Little Grebe \n \n \n \n Red-wattled Lapwing \n \n \n \n Asian Green Bee-eater \n \n \n \n Asian Koel \n \n \n \n Common Tailorbird \n \n \n \n Gray Heron \n \n \n \n Rock Pigeon \n \n \n \n Common Hawk Cuckoo \n \n \n \n Ashy Prinia \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Summary of Walk \n \n \n \n Guided by Francis Anish\, fourteen participants gathered at the Pallikarnai Marshland in Chennai to witness a serene sunrise over one of South India’s most significant wetland ecosystems. This expansive marshland\, an important habitat within the city\, offers a striking contrast of open water\, reed beds and grassy patches that draw an impressive variety of resident and migratory birds. \n\nThe walk showcased a wide array of species\, including Little and Indian Cormorants\, Painted Storks\, Black-winged Stilts\, Blue-tailed Bee-eaters\, and both Common and White-throated Kingfishers. Spot-billed Pelicans were seen perching on electrical towers\, alongside Indian Spot-billed Ducks\, Grey and Purple Herons\, and Yellow-billed Babblers. The standout sightings of the morning were the elusive Greater Painted Snipe\, Wood Sandpipers and Tricoloured Munias\, delighting the group with their rarity. It was a beautifully immersive morning that highlighted the ecological richness thriving within Pallikarnai’s wetlands. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Number of Participants \n \n 0 URL:https://ataavi.org/event/bird-walk-at-kommaghatta-lake-bengaluru/ CATEGORIES:Birding Bharat ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ataavi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/IMG20260815081622-scaled.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260815T063000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260815T083000 DTSTAMP:20261024T124353 CREATED:20260807T105734Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260819T055409Z UID:15593-1786775400-1786782600@ataavi.org SUMMARY:Bird Walk at Niti Mana Ghati Office - Chalang\, Dehradun\, UK DESCRIPTION:Bird Walk at Pallikarnai Marshland\, Chennai\, TN \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Chennai\n \n \n \n \n 29 August\, 2026\n \n \n \n \n Francis Anish\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai is one of the last big freshwater marshes left inside a major Indian metropolis\, hemmed in on all sides by Chennai’s IT corridor along Old Mahabalipuram Road. It is a shadow of its former self — the marsh once spread across some 6\,000 hectares but has been squeezed down to under 600 by decades of landfilling\, road-building\, and unplanned growth — yet what survives is still an internationally important wetland\, formally recognised as a Ramsar site in 2022. Its mix of open water\, reed beds\, and seasonally flooded grassland supports more than 100 recorded fauna species and around 275 plant species\, an extraordinary tally for a site now boxed in by apartment towers on almost every side. \n \n \n \n For birders\, Pallikaranai remains a genuine city-edge spectacle\, drawing waterbirds\, waders\, and raptors that would otherwise have nowhere left to go in urban Chennai. The marsh’s fortunes have been a battleground for years\, with waste dumping by the city corporation\, construction debris\, and pressure from nearby IT campuses steadily chipping away at what is left\, even as eco-restoration work — including a public eco-park opened in 2021 — tries to hold the line. Its Ramsar status has raised its profile considerably\, but conservationists are candid that the gap between protection on paper and protection on the ground remains wide.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird Guide: Francis AnishHe is an ornithologist and avid birdwatcher with over three years of research experience at the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)\, Coimbatore. His work includes research on the Critically Endangered White-bellied Heron\, reflecting his strong interest in bird conservation and ecology. Beyond research\, he regularly explores the field as a passionate birder\, deepening his understanding of bird behavior and habitats. He has also volunteered as a bird expert for the Tamil Nadu Forest Department's raptor survey in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve\, contributing to important wildlife monitoring and conservation efforts.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird walk Location \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Common birds of Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai’s open water and reed beds pack in a lively mix of waterbirds and city-edge regulars\, visible even on a short walk along the marsh boundary. Indian Cormorants and a Spot-billed Pelican work the open water together\, while a Black Drongo watches from a wire and Black-winged Stilts pick through the shallows on impossibly long legs. Egrets are well represented\, with both the Little Egret and Medium Egret stalking the margins alongside an Oriental Darter drying its wings on a snag. Rose-ringed Parakeets screech overhead as Spot-billed Ducks glide across the water\, and the marsh’s ibis population — Glossy Ibis and Black-headed Ibis both — probes the mud for food. A Black Kite circles above\, a Little Grebe dives and resurfaces near the reeds\, and Red-wattled Lapwings call sharply from the open ground. Closer to the marsh edge\, an Asian Green Bee-eater hawks from a low perch\, an Asian Koel calls from nearby trees\, and a Common Tailorbird and Ashy Prinia work the scrub while a Gray Heron stands motionless at the water’s edge — a snapshot of just how much life this shrinking marsh still holds. \n \n \n \n \n Indian Cormorant \n \n \n \n Spot-billed Pelican \n \n \n \n Black Drongo \n \n \n \n Black-winged Stilt \n \n \n \n Little Egret \n \n \n \n Oriental Darter \n \n \n \n Rose-ringed Parakeet \n \n \n \n Indian Spot-billed Duck \n \n \n \n Glossy Ibis \n \n \n \n Black-headed Ibis \n \n \n \n Black Kite \n \n \n \n Little Grebe \n \n \n \n Red-wattled Lapwing \n \n \n \n Asian Green Bee-eater \n \n \n \n Asian Koel \n \n \n \n Common Tailorbird \n \n \n \n Gray Heron \n \n \n \n Rock Pigeon \n \n \n \n Common Hawk Cuckoo \n \n \n \n Ashy Prinia \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Summary of Walk \n \n \n \n Guided by Francis Anish\, fourteen participants gathered at the Pallikarnai Marshland in Chennai to witness a serene sunrise over one of South India’s most significant wetland ecosystems. This expansive marshland\, an important habitat within the city\, offers a striking contrast of open water\, reed beds and grassy patches that draw an impressive variety of resident and migratory birds. \n\nThe walk showcased a wide array of species\, including Little and Indian Cormorants\, Painted Storks\, Black-winged Stilts\, Blue-tailed Bee-eaters\, and both Common and White-throated Kingfishers. Spot-billed Pelicans were seen perching on electrical towers\, alongside Indian Spot-billed Ducks\, Grey and Purple Herons\, and Yellow-billed Babblers. The standout sightings of the morning were the elusive Greater Painted Snipe\, Wood Sandpipers and Tricoloured Munias\, delighting the group with their rarity. It was a beautifully immersive morning that highlighted the ecological richness thriving within Pallikarnai’s wetlands. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Number of Participants \n \n 0 URL:https://ataavi.org/event/bird-walk-at-niti-mana-ghati-office-chalang-dehradun-uk/ CATEGORIES:Birding Bharat ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ataavi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/IMG20260815073439-scaled.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260815T063000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260815T083000 DTSTAMP:20261024T124353 CREATED:20260807T092702Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260819T060526Z UID:15534-1786775400-1786782600@ataavi.org SUMMARY:Bird Walk at Gorewada Biopark and Nature Trail\, Nagpur\, Maharashtra DESCRIPTION:Bird Walk at Pallikarnai Marshland\, Chennai\, TN \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Chennai\n \n \n \n \n 29 August\, 2026\n \n \n \n \n Francis Anish\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai is one of the last big freshwater marshes left inside a major Indian metropolis\, hemmed in on all sides by Chennai’s IT corridor along Old Mahabalipuram Road. It is a shadow of its former self — the marsh once spread across some 6\,000 hectares but has been squeezed down to under 600 by decades of landfilling\, road-building\, and unplanned growth — yet what survives is still an internationally important wetland\, formally recognised as a Ramsar site in 2022. Its mix of open water\, reed beds\, and seasonally flooded grassland supports more than 100 recorded fauna species and around 275 plant species\, an extraordinary tally for a site now boxed in by apartment towers on almost every side. \n \n \n \n For birders\, Pallikaranai remains a genuine city-edge spectacle\, drawing waterbirds\, waders\, and raptors that would otherwise have nowhere left to go in urban Chennai. The marsh’s fortunes have been a battleground for years\, with waste dumping by the city corporation\, construction debris\, and pressure from nearby IT campuses steadily chipping away at what is left\, even as eco-restoration work — including a public eco-park opened in 2021 — tries to hold the line. Its Ramsar status has raised its profile considerably\, but conservationists are candid that the gap between protection on paper and protection on the ground remains wide.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird Guide: Francis AnishHe is an ornithologist and avid birdwatcher with over three years of research experience at the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)\, Coimbatore. His work includes research on the Critically Endangered White-bellied Heron\, reflecting his strong interest in bird conservation and ecology. Beyond research\, he regularly explores the field as a passionate birder\, deepening his understanding of bird behavior and habitats. He has also volunteered as a bird expert for the Tamil Nadu Forest Department's raptor survey in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve\, contributing to important wildlife monitoring and conservation efforts.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird walk Location \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Common birds of Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai’s open water and reed beds pack in a lively mix of waterbirds and city-edge regulars\, visible even on a short walk along the marsh boundary. Indian Cormorants and a Spot-billed Pelican work the open water together\, while a Black Drongo watches from a wire and Black-winged Stilts pick through the shallows on impossibly long legs. Egrets are well represented\, with both the Little Egret and Medium Egret stalking the margins alongside an Oriental Darter drying its wings on a snag. Rose-ringed Parakeets screech overhead as Spot-billed Ducks glide across the water\, and the marsh’s ibis population — Glossy Ibis and Black-headed Ibis both — probes the mud for food. A Black Kite circles above\, a Little Grebe dives and resurfaces near the reeds\, and Red-wattled Lapwings call sharply from the open ground. Closer to the marsh edge\, an Asian Green Bee-eater hawks from a low perch\, an Asian Koel calls from nearby trees\, and a Common Tailorbird and Ashy Prinia work the scrub while a Gray Heron stands motionless at the water’s edge — a snapshot of just how much life this shrinking marsh still holds. \n \n \n \n \n Indian Cormorant \n \n \n \n Spot-billed Pelican \n \n \n \n Black Drongo \n \n \n \n Black-winged Stilt \n \n \n \n Little Egret \n \n \n \n Oriental Darter \n \n \n \n Rose-ringed Parakeet \n \n \n \n Indian Spot-billed Duck \n \n \n \n Glossy Ibis \n \n \n \n Black-headed Ibis \n \n \n \n Black Kite \n \n \n \n Little Grebe \n \n \n \n Red-wattled Lapwing \n \n \n \n Asian Green Bee-eater \n \n \n \n Asian Koel \n \n \n \n Common Tailorbird \n \n \n \n Gray Heron \n \n \n \n Rock Pigeon \n \n \n \n Common Hawk Cuckoo \n \n \n \n Ashy Prinia \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Summary of Walk \n \n \n \n Guided by Francis Anish\, fourteen participants gathered at the Pallikarnai Marshland in Chennai to witness a serene sunrise over one of South India’s most significant wetland ecosystems. This expansive marshland\, an important habitat within the city\, offers a striking contrast of open water\, reed beds and grassy patches that draw an impressive variety of resident and migratory birds. \n\nThe walk showcased a wide array of species\, including Little and Indian Cormorants\, Painted Storks\, Black-winged Stilts\, Blue-tailed Bee-eaters\, and both Common and White-throated Kingfishers. Spot-billed Pelicans were seen perching on electrical towers\, alongside Indian Spot-billed Ducks\, Grey and Purple Herons\, and Yellow-billed Babblers. The standout sightings of the morning were the elusive Greater Painted Snipe\, Wood Sandpipers and Tricoloured Munias\, delighting the group with their rarity. It was a beautifully immersive morning that highlighted the ecological richness thriving within Pallikarnai’s wetlands. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Number of Participants \n \n 0 URL:https://ataavi.org/event/bird-walk-at-gorewada-biopark-and-nature-trail-nagpur-maharashtra-2/ CATEGORIES:Birding Bharat ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ataavi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/IMG20260815083132-scaled.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260815T063000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260815T083000 DTSTAMP:20261024T124353 CREATED:20260807T075139Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260819T082159Z UID:15479-1786775400-1786782600@ataavi.org SUMMARY:Bird Walk at Kakolu Lake Bengaluru\, Karnataka DESCRIPTION:Bird Walk at Pallikarnai Marshland\, Chennai\, TN \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Chennai\n \n \n \n \n 29 August\, 2026\n \n \n \n \n Francis Anish\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai is one of the last big freshwater marshes left inside a major Indian metropolis\, hemmed in on all sides by Chennai’s IT corridor along Old Mahabalipuram Road. It is a shadow of its former self — the marsh once spread across some 6\,000 hectares but has been squeezed down to under 600 by decades of landfilling\, road-building\, and unplanned growth — yet what survives is still an internationally important wetland\, formally recognised as a Ramsar site in 2022. Its mix of open water\, reed beds\, and seasonally flooded grassland supports more than 100 recorded fauna species and around 275 plant species\, an extraordinary tally for a site now boxed in by apartment towers on almost every side. \n \n \n \n For birders\, Pallikaranai remains a genuine city-edge spectacle\, drawing waterbirds\, waders\, and raptors that would otherwise have nowhere left to go in urban Chennai. The marsh’s fortunes have been a battleground for years\, with waste dumping by the city corporation\, construction debris\, and pressure from nearby IT campuses steadily chipping away at what is left\, even as eco-restoration work — including a public eco-park opened in 2021 — tries to hold the line. Its Ramsar status has raised its profile considerably\, but conservationists are candid that the gap between protection on paper and protection on the ground remains wide.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird Guide: Francis AnishHe is an ornithologist and avid birdwatcher with over three years of research experience at the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)\, Coimbatore. His work includes research on the Critically Endangered White-bellied Heron\, reflecting his strong interest in bird conservation and ecology. Beyond research\, he regularly explores the field as a passionate birder\, deepening his understanding of bird behavior and habitats. He has also volunteered as a bird expert for the Tamil Nadu Forest Department's raptor survey in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve\, contributing to important wildlife monitoring and conservation efforts.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird walk Location \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Common birds of Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai’s open water and reed beds pack in a lively mix of waterbirds and city-edge regulars\, visible even on a short walk along the marsh boundary. Indian Cormorants and a Spot-billed Pelican work the open water together\, while a Black Drongo watches from a wire and Black-winged Stilts pick through the shallows on impossibly long legs. Egrets are well represented\, with both the Little Egret and Medium Egret stalking the margins alongside an Oriental Darter drying its wings on a snag. Rose-ringed Parakeets screech overhead as Spot-billed Ducks glide across the water\, and the marsh’s ibis population — Glossy Ibis and Black-headed Ibis both — probes the mud for food. A Black Kite circles above\, a Little Grebe dives and resurfaces near the reeds\, and Red-wattled Lapwings call sharply from the open ground. Closer to the marsh edge\, an Asian Green Bee-eater hawks from a low perch\, an Asian Koel calls from nearby trees\, and a Common Tailorbird and Ashy Prinia work the scrub while a Gray Heron stands motionless at the water’s edge — a snapshot of just how much life this shrinking marsh still holds. \n \n \n \n \n Indian Cormorant \n \n \n \n Spot-billed Pelican \n \n \n \n Black Drongo \n \n \n \n Black-winged Stilt \n \n \n \n Little Egret \n \n \n \n Oriental Darter \n \n \n \n Rose-ringed Parakeet \n \n \n \n Indian Spot-billed Duck \n \n \n \n Glossy Ibis \n \n \n \n Black-headed Ibis \n \n \n \n Black Kite \n \n \n \n Little Grebe \n \n \n \n Red-wattled Lapwing \n \n \n \n Asian Green Bee-eater \n \n \n \n Asian Koel \n \n \n \n Common Tailorbird \n \n \n \n Gray Heron \n \n \n \n Rock Pigeon \n \n \n \n Common Hawk Cuckoo \n \n \n \n Ashy Prinia \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Summary of Walk \n \n \n \n Guided by Francis Anish\, fourteen participants gathered at the Pallikarnai Marshland in Chennai to witness a serene sunrise over one of South India’s most significant wetland ecosystems. This expansive marshland\, an important habitat within the city\, offers a striking contrast of open water\, reed beds and grassy patches that draw an impressive variety of resident and migratory birds. \n\nThe walk showcased a wide array of species\, including Little and Indian Cormorants\, Painted Storks\, Black-winged Stilts\, Blue-tailed Bee-eaters\, and both Common and White-throated Kingfishers. Spot-billed Pelicans were seen perching on electrical towers\, alongside Indian Spot-billed Ducks\, Grey and Purple Herons\, and Yellow-billed Babblers. The standout sightings of the morning were the elusive Greater Painted Snipe\, Wood Sandpipers and Tricoloured Munias\, delighting the group with their rarity. It was a beautifully immersive morning that highlighted the ecological richness thriving within Pallikarnai’s wetlands. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Number of Participants \n \n 0 URL:https://ataavi.org/event/bird-walk-at-kakolu-lake-bengaluru/ CATEGORIES:Birding Bharat ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ataavi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WhatsApp-Image-2026-08-16-at-7.23.55-PM.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260815T060000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260815T080000 DTSTAMP:20261024T124353 CREATED:20260807T114059Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260819T083534Z UID:15621-1786773600-1786780800@ataavi.org SUMMARY:Bird Walk at Pallikarnai Marshland\, Chennai\, TN DESCRIPTION:Bird Walk at Pallikarnai Marshland\, Chennai\, TN \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Chennai\n \n \n \n \n 29 August\, 2026\n \n \n \n \n Francis Anish\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai is one of the last big freshwater marshes left inside a major Indian metropolis\, hemmed in on all sides by Chennai’s IT corridor along Old Mahabalipuram Road. It is a shadow of its former self — the marsh once spread across some 6\,000 hectares but has been squeezed down to under 600 by decades of landfilling\, road-building\, and unplanned growth — yet what survives is still an internationally important wetland\, formally recognised as a Ramsar site in 2022. Its mix of open water\, reed beds\, and seasonally flooded grassland supports more than 100 recorded fauna species and around 275 plant species\, an extraordinary tally for a site now boxed in by apartment towers on almost every side. \n \n \n \n For birders\, Pallikaranai remains a genuine city-edge spectacle\, drawing waterbirds\, waders\, and raptors that would otherwise have nowhere left to go in urban Chennai. The marsh’s fortunes have been a battleground for years\, with waste dumping by the city corporation\, construction debris\, and pressure from nearby IT campuses steadily chipping away at what is left\, even as eco-restoration work — including a public eco-park opened in 2021 — tries to hold the line. Its Ramsar status has raised its profile considerably\, but conservationists are candid that the gap between protection on paper and protection on the ground remains wide.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird Guide: Francis AnishHe is an ornithologist and avid birdwatcher with over three years of research experience at the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)\, Coimbatore. His work includes research on the Critically Endangered White-bellied Heron\, reflecting his strong interest in bird conservation and ecology. Beyond research\, he regularly explores the field as a passionate birder\, deepening his understanding of bird behavior and habitats. He has also volunteered as a bird expert for the Tamil Nadu Forest Department's raptor survey in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve\, contributing to important wildlife monitoring and conservation efforts.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird walk Location \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Common birds of Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai’s open water and reed beds pack in a lively mix of waterbirds and city-edge regulars\, visible even on a short walk along the marsh boundary. Indian Cormorants and a Spot-billed Pelican work the open water together\, while a Black Drongo watches from a wire and Black-winged Stilts pick through the shallows on impossibly long legs. Egrets are well represented\, with both the Little Egret and Medium Egret stalking the margins alongside an Oriental Darter drying its wings on a snag. Rose-ringed Parakeets screech overhead as Spot-billed Ducks glide across the water\, and the marsh’s ibis population — Glossy Ibis and Black-headed Ibis both — probes the mud for food. A Black Kite circles above\, a Little Grebe dives and resurfaces near the reeds\, and Red-wattled Lapwings call sharply from the open ground. Closer to the marsh edge\, an Asian Green Bee-eater hawks from a low perch\, an Asian Koel calls from nearby trees\, and a Common Tailorbird and Ashy Prinia work the scrub while a Gray Heron stands motionless at the water’s edge — a snapshot of just how much life this shrinking marsh still holds. \n \n \n \n \n Indian Cormorant \n \n \n \n Spot-billed Pelican \n \n \n \n Black Drongo \n \n \n \n Black-winged Stilt \n \n \n \n Little Egret \n \n \n \n Oriental Darter \n \n \n \n Rose-ringed Parakeet \n \n \n \n Indian Spot-billed Duck \n \n \n \n Glossy Ibis \n \n \n \n Black-headed Ibis \n \n \n \n Black Kite \n \n \n \n Little Grebe \n \n \n \n Red-wattled Lapwing \n \n \n \n Asian Green Bee-eater \n \n \n \n Asian Koel \n \n \n \n Common Tailorbird \n \n \n \n Gray Heron \n \n \n \n Rock Pigeon \n \n \n \n Common Hawk Cuckoo \n \n \n \n Ashy Prinia \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Summary of Walk \n \n \n \n Guided by Francis Anish\, fourteen participants gathered at the Pallikarnai Marshland in Chennai to witness a serene sunrise over one of South India’s most significant wetland ecosystems. This expansive marshland\, an important habitat within the city\, offers a striking contrast of open water\, reed beds and grassy patches that draw an impressive variety of resident and migratory birds. \n\nThe walk showcased a wide array of species\, including Little and Indian Cormorants\, Painted Storks\, Black-winged Stilts\, Blue-tailed Bee-eaters\, and both Common and White-throated Kingfishers. Spot-billed Pelicans were seen perching on electrical towers\, alongside Indian Spot-billed Ducks\, Grey and Purple Herons\, and Yellow-billed Babblers. The standout sightings of the morning were the elusive Greater Painted Snipe\, Wood Sandpipers and Tricoloured Munias\, delighting the group with their rarity. It was a beautifully immersive morning that highlighted the ecological richness thriving within Pallikarnai’s wetlands. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Number of Participants \n \n 0 URL:https://ataavi.org/event/bird-walk-at-pallikarnai-marshland-chennai-tamil-nadu/ CATEGORIES:Birding Bharat ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ataavi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WhatsApp-Image-2026-08-16-at-3.25.38-PM-1-1.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260815T060000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260815T080000 DTSTAMP:20261024T124353 CREATED:20260807T094439Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260819T062308Z UID:15559-1786773600-1786780800@ataavi.org SUMMARY:Bird Walk at Bhondsi Forest\, Gurugram\, Delhi NCR DESCRIPTION:Bird Walk at Pallikarnai Marshland\, Chennai\, TN \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Chennai\n \n \n \n \n 29 August\, 2026\n \n \n \n \n Francis Anish\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai is one of the last big freshwater marshes left inside a major Indian metropolis\, hemmed in on all sides by Chennai’s IT corridor along Old Mahabalipuram Road. It is a shadow of its former self — the marsh once spread across some 6\,000 hectares but has been squeezed down to under 600 by decades of landfilling\, road-building\, and unplanned growth — yet what survives is still an internationally important wetland\, formally recognised as a Ramsar site in 2022. Its mix of open water\, reed beds\, and seasonally flooded grassland supports more than 100 recorded fauna species and around 275 plant species\, an extraordinary tally for a site now boxed in by apartment towers on almost every side. \n \n \n \n For birders\, Pallikaranai remains a genuine city-edge spectacle\, drawing waterbirds\, waders\, and raptors that would otherwise have nowhere left to go in urban Chennai. The marsh’s fortunes have been a battleground for years\, with waste dumping by the city corporation\, construction debris\, and pressure from nearby IT campuses steadily chipping away at what is left\, even as eco-restoration work — including a public eco-park opened in 2021 — tries to hold the line. Its Ramsar status has raised its profile considerably\, but conservationists are candid that the gap between protection on paper and protection on the ground remains wide.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird Guide: Francis AnishHe is an ornithologist and avid birdwatcher with over three years of research experience at the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)\, Coimbatore. His work includes research on the Critically Endangered White-bellied Heron\, reflecting his strong interest in bird conservation and ecology. Beyond research\, he regularly explores the field as a passionate birder\, deepening his understanding of bird behavior and habitats. He has also volunteered as a bird expert for the Tamil Nadu Forest Department's raptor survey in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve\, contributing to important wildlife monitoring and conservation efforts.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird walk Location \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Common birds of Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai’s open water and reed beds pack in a lively mix of waterbirds and city-edge regulars\, visible even on a short walk along the marsh boundary. Indian Cormorants and a Spot-billed Pelican work the open water together\, while a Black Drongo watches from a wire and Black-winged Stilts pick through the shallows on impossibly long legs. Egrets are well represented\, with both the Little Egret and Medium Egret stalking the margins alongside an Oriental Darter drying its wings on a snag. Rose-ringed Parakeets screech overhead as Spot-billed Ducks glide across the water\, and the marsh’s ibis population — Glossy Ibis and Black-headed Ibis both — probes the mud for food. A Black Kite circles above\, a Little Grebe dives and resurfaces near the reeds\, and Red-wattled Lapwings call sharply from the open ground. Closer to the marsh edge\, an Asian Green Bee-eater hawks from a low perch\, an Asian Koel calls from nearby trees\, and a Common Tailorbird and Ashy Prinia work the scrub while a Gray Heron stands motionless at the water’s edge — a snapshot of just how much life this shrinking marsh still holds. \n \n \n \n \n Indian Cormorant \n \n \n \n Spot-billed Pelican \n \n \n \n Black Drongo \n \n \n \n Black-winged Stilt \n \n \n \n Little Egret \n \n \n \n Oriental Darter \n \n \n \n Rose-ringed Parakeet \n \n \n \n Indian Spot-billed Duck \n \n \n \n Glossy Ibis \n \n \n \n Black-headed Ibis \n \n \n \n Black Kite \n \n \n \n Little Grebe \n \n \n \n Red-wattled Lapwing \n \n \n \n Asian Green Bee-eater \n \n \n \n Asian Koel \n \n \n \n Common Tailorbird \n \n \n \n Gray Heron \n \n \n \n Rock Pigeon \n \n \n \n Common Hawk Cuckoo \n \n \n \n Ashy Prinia \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Summary of Walk \n \n \n \n Guided by Francis Anish\, fourteen participants gathered at the Pallikarnai Marshland in Chennai to witness a serene sunrise over one of South India’s most significant wetland ecosystems. This expansive marshland\, an important habitat within the city\, offers a striking contrast of open water\, reed beds and grassy patches that draw an impressive variety of resident and migratory birds. \n\nThe walk showcased a wide array of species\, including Little and Indian Cormorants\, Painted Storks\, Black-winged Stilts\, Blue-tailed Bee-eaters\, and both Common and White-throated Kingfishers. Spot-billed Pelicans were seen perching on electrical towers\, alongside Indian Spot-billed Ducks\, Grey and Purple Herons\, and Yellow-billed Babblers. The standout sightings of the morning were the elusive Greater Painted Snipe\, Wood Sandpipers and Tricoloured Munias\, delighting the group with their rarity. It was a beautifully immersive morning that highlighted the ecological richness thriving within Pallikarnai’s wetlands. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Number of Participants \n \n 0 URL:https://ataavi.org/event/bird-walk-at-bhondsi-forest-gurugram-delhi-ncr-sk-2/ CATEGORIES:Birding Bharat ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ataavi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/IMG20260815071056-scaled.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260815T060000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260815T080000 DTSTAMP:20261024T124353 CREATED:20260807T084222Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260819T083848Z UID:15497-1786773600-1786780800@ataavi.org SUMMARY:Bird Walk at Akherajji Lake\, Jodhpur\, RJ DESCRIPTION:Bird Walk at Pallikarnai Marshland\, Chennai\, TN \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Chennai\n \n \n \n \n 29 August\, 2026\n \n \n \n \n Francis Anish\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai is one of the last big freshwater marshes left inside a major Indian metropolis\, hemmed in on all sides by Chennai’s IT corridor along Old Mahabalipuram Road. It is a shadow of its former self — the marsh once spread across some 6\,000 hectares but has been squeezed down to under 600 by decades of landfilling\, road-building\, and unplanned growth — yet what survives is still an internationally important wetland\, formally recognised as a Ramsar site in 2022. Its mix of open water\, reed beds\, and seasonally flooded grassland supports more than 100 recorded fauna species and around 275 plant species\, an extraordinary tally for a site now boxed in by apartment towers on almost every side. \n \n \n \n For birders\, Pallikaranai remains a genuine city-edge spectacle\, drawing waterbirds\, waders\, and raptors that would otherwise have nowhere left to go in urban Chennai. The marsh’s fortunes have been a battleground for years\, with waste dumping by the city corporation\, construction debris\, and pressure from nearby IT campuses steadily chipping away at what is left\, even as eco-restoration work — including a public eco-park opened in 2021 — tries to hold the line. Its Ramsar status has raised its profile considerably\, but conservationists are candid that the gap between protection on paper and protection on the ground remains wide.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird Guide: Francis AnishHe is an ornithologist and avid birdwatcher with over three years of research experience at the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)\, Coimbatore. His work includes research on the Critically Endangered White-bellied Heron\, reflecting his strong interest in bird conservation and ecology. Beyond research\, he regularly explores the field as a passionate birder\, deepening his understanding of bird behavior and habitats. He has also volunteered as a bird expert for the Tamil Nadu Forest Department's raptor survey in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve\, contributing to important wildlife monitoring and conservation efforts.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird walk Location \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Common birds of Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai’s open water and reed beds pack in a lively mix of waterbirds and city-edge regulars\, visible even on a short walk along the marsh boundary. Indian Cormorants and a Spot-billed Pelican work the open water together\, while a Black Drongo watches from a wire and Black-winged Stilts pick through the shallows on impossibly long legs. Egrets are well represented\, with both the Little Egret and Medium Egret stalking the margins alongside an Oriental Darter drying its wings on a snag. Rose-ringed Parakeets screech overhead as Spot-billed Ducks glide across the water\, and the marsh’s ibis population — Glossy Ibis and Black-headed Ibis both — probes the mud for food. A Black Kite circles above\, a Little Grebe dives and resurfaces near the reeds\, and Red-wattled Lapwings call sharply from the open ground. Closer to the marsh edge\, an Asian Green Bee-eater hawks from a low perch\, an Asian Koel calls from nearby trees\, and a Common Tailorbird and Ashy Prinia work the scrub while a Gray Heron stands motionless at the water’s edge — a snapshot of just how much life this shrinking marsh still holds. \n \n \n \n \n Indian Cormorant \n \n \n \n Spot-billed Pelican \n \n \n \n Black Drongo \n \n \n \n Black-winged Stilt \n \n \n \n Little Egret \n \n \n \n Oriental Darter \n \n \n \n Rose-ringed Parakeet \n \n \n \n Indian Spot-billed Duck \n \n \n \n Glossy Ibis \n \n \n \n Black-headed Ibis \n \n \n \n Black Kite \n \n \n \n Little Grebe \n \n \n \n Red-wattled Lapwing \n \n \n \n Asian Green Bee-eater \n \n \n \n Asian Koel \n \n \n \n Common Tailorbird \n \n \n \n Gray Heron \n \n \n \n Rock Pigeon \n \n \n \n Common Hawk Cuckoo \n \n \n \n Ashy Prinia \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Summary of Walk \n \n \n \n Guided by Francis Anish\, fourteen participants gathered at the Pallikarnai Marshland in Chennai to witness a serene sunrise over one of South India’s most significant wetland ecosystems. This expansive marshland\, an important habitat within the city\, offers a striking contrast of open water\, reed beds and grassy patches that draw an impressive variety of resident and migratory birds. \n\nThe walk showcased a wide array of species\, including Little and Indian Cormorants\, Painted Storks\, Black-winged Stilts\, Blue-tailed Bee-eaters\, and both Common and White-throated Kingfishers. Spot-billed Pelicans were seen perching on electrical towers\, alongside Indian Spot-billed Ducks\, Grey and Purple Herons\, and Yellow-billed Babblers. The standout sightings of the morning were the elusive Greater Painted Snipe\, Wood Sandpipers and Tricoloured Munias\, delighting the group with their rarity. It was a beautifully immersive morning that highlighted the ecological richness thriving within Pallikarnai’s wetlands. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Number of Participants \n \n 0 URL:https://ataavi.org/event/bird-walk-at-akherajji-lake-jodhpur/ CATEGORIES:Birding Bharat ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ataavi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WhatsApp-Image-2026-08-15-at-6.47.51-PM.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260815T060000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260815T080000 DTSTAMP:20261024T124353 CREATED:20260807T082230Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260819T083728Z UID:15492-1786773600-1786780800@ataavi.org SUMMARY:Bird Walk at Siswan Forest\, Chandigarh DESCRIPTION:Bird Walk at Pallikarnai Marshland\, Chennai\, TN \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Chennai\n \n \n \n \n 29 August\, 2026\n \n \n \n \n Francis Anish\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai is one of the last big freshwater marshes left inside a major Indian metropolis\, hemmed in on all sides by Chennai’s IT corridor along Old Mahabalipuram Road. It is a shadow of its former self — the marsh once spread across some 6\,000 hectares but has been squeezed down to under 600 by decades of landfilling\, road-building\, and unplanned growth — yet what survives is still an internationally important wetland\, formally recognised as a Ramsar site in 2022. Its mix of open water\, reed beds\, and seasonally flooded grassland supports more than 100 recorded fauna species and around 275 plant species\, an extraordinary tally for a site now boxed in by apartment towers on almost every side. \n \n \n \n For birders\, Pallikaranai remains a genuine city-edge spectacle\, drawing waterbirds\, waders\, and raptors that would otherwise have nowhere left to go in urban Chennai. The marsh’s fortunes have been a battleground for years\, with waste dumping by the city corporation\, construction debris\, and pressure from nearby IT campuses steadily chipping away at what is left\, even as eco-restoration work — including a public eco-park opened in 2021 — tries to hold the line. Its Ramsar status has raised its profile considerably\, but conservationists are candid that the gap between protection on paper and protection on the ground remains wide.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird Guide: Francis AnishHe is an ornithologist and avid birdwatcher with over three years of research experience at the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)\, Coimbatore. His work includes research on the Critically Endangered White-bellied Heron\, reflecting his strong interest in bird conservation and ecology. Beyond research\, he regularly explores the field as a passionate birder\, deepening his understanding of bird behavior and habitats. He has also volunteered as a bird expert for the Tamil Nadu Forest Department's raptor survey in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve\, contributing to important wildlife monitoring and conservation efforts.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird walk Location \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Common birds of Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai’s open water and reed beds pack in a lively mix of waterbirds and city-edge regulars\, visible even on a short walk along the marsh boundary. Indian Cormorants and a Spot-billed Pelican work the open water together\, while a Black Drongo watches from a wire and Black-winged Stilts pick through the shallows on impossibly long legs. Egrets are well represented\, with both the Little Egret and Medium Egret stalking the margins alongside an Oriental Darter drying its wings on a snag. Rose-ringed Parakeets screech overhead as Spot-billed Ducks glide across the water\, and the marsh’s ibis population — Glossy Ibis and Black-headed Ibis both — probes the mud for food. A Black Kite circles above\, a Little Grebe dives and resurfaces near the reeds\, and Red-wattled Lapwings call sharply from the open ground. Closer to the marsh edge\, an Asian Green Bee-eater hawks from a low perch\, an Asian Koel calls from nearby trees\, and a Common Tailorbird and Ashy Prinia work the scrub while a Gray Heron stands motionless at the water’s edge — a snapshot of just how much life this shrinking marsh still holds. \n \n \n \n \n Indian Cormorant \n \n \n \n Spot-billed Pelican \n \n \n \n Black Drongo \n \n \n \n Black-winged Stilt \n \n \n \n Little Egret \n \n \n \n Oriental Darter \n \n \n \n Rose-ringed Parakeet \n \n \n \n Indian Spot-billed Duck \n \n \n \n Glossy Ibis \n \n \n \n Black-headed Ibis \n \n \n \n Black Kite \n \n \n \n Little Grebe \n \n \n \n Red-wattled Lapwing \n \n \n \n Asian Green Bee-eater \n \n \n \n Asian Koel \n \n \n \n Common Tailorbird \n \n \n \n Gray Heron \n \n \n \n Rock Pigeon \n \n \n \n Common Hawk Cuckoo \n \n \n \n Ashy Prinia \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Summary of Walk \n \n \n \n Guided by Francis Anish\, fourteen participants gathered at the Pallikarnai Marshland in Chennai to witness a serene sunrise over one of South India’s most significant wetland ecosystems. This expansive marshland\, an important habitat within the city\, offers a striking contrast of open water\, reed beds and grassy patches that draw an impressive variety of resident and migratory birds. \n\nThe walk showcased a wide array of species\, including Little and Indian Cormorants\, Painted Storks\, Black-winged Stilts\, Blue-tailed Bee-eaters\, and both Common and White-throated Kingfishers. Spot-billed Pelicans were seen perching on electrical towers\, alongside Indian Spot-billed Ducks\, Grey and Purple Herons\, and Yellow-billed Babblers. The standout sightings of the morning were the elusive Greater Painted Snipe\, Wood Sandpipers and Tricoloured Munias\, delighting the group with their rarity. It was a beautifully immersive morning that highlighted the ecological richness thriving within Pallikarnai’s wetlands. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Number of Participants \n \n 0 URL:https://ataavi.org/event/bird-walk-at-siswan-forest-chandigarh-pb/ CATEGORIES:Birding Bharat ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ataavi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WhatsApp-Image-2026-08-16-at-9.16.29-AM.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260815T060000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260815T080000 DTSTAMP:20261024T124353 CREATED:20260807T081427Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260819T061942Z UID:15487-1786773600-1786780800@ataavi.org SUMMARY:Bird Walk at Saul Kere (Sarjapur Road)\, Bengaluru\, Karnataka DESCRIPTION:Bird Walk at Pallikarnai Marshland\, Chennai\, TN \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Chennai\n \n \n \n \n 29 August\, 2026\n \n \n \n \n Francis Anish\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai is one of the last big freshwater marshes left inside a major Indian metropolis\, hemmed in on all sides by Chennai’s IT corridor along Old Mahabalipuram Road. It is a shadow of its former self — the marsh once spread across some 6\,000 hectares but has been squeezed down to under 600 by decades of landfilling\, road-building\, and unplanned growth — yet what survives is still an internationally important wetland\, formally recognised as a Ramsar site in 2022. Its mix of open water\, reed beds\, and seasonally flooded grassland supports more than 100 recorded fauna species and around 275 plant species\, an extraordinary tally for a site now boxed in by apartment towers on almost every side. \n \n \n \n For birders\, Pallikaranai remains a genuine city-edge spectacle\, drawing waterbirds\, waders\, and raptors that would otherwise have nowhere left to go in urban Chennai. The marsh’s fortunes have been a battleground for years\, with waste dumping by the city corporation\, construction debris\, and pressure from nearby IT campuses steadily chipping away at what is left\, even as eco-restoration work — including a public eco-park opened in 2021 — tries to hold the line. Its Ramsar status has raised its profile considerably\, but conservationists are candid that the gap between protection on paper and protection on the ground remains wide.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird Guide: Francis AnishHe is an ornithologist and avid birdwatcher with over three years of research experience at the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)\, Coimbatore. His work includes research on the Critically Endangered White-bellied Heron\, reflecting his strong interest in bird conservation and ecology. Beyond research\, he regularly explores the field as a passionate birder\, deepening his understanding of bird behavior and habitats. He has also volunteered as a bird expert for the Tamil Nadu Forest Department's raptor survey in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve\, contributing to important wildlife monitoring and conservation efforts.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird walk Location \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Common birds of Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai’s open water and reed beds pack in a lively mix of waterbirds and city-edge regulars\, visible even on a short walk along the marsh boundary. Indian Cormorants and a Spot-billed Pelican work the open water together\, while a Black Drongo watches from a wire and Black-winged Stilts pick through the shallows on impossibly long legs. Egrets are well represented\, with both the Little Egret and Medium Egret stalking the margins alongside an Oriental Darter drying its wings on a snag. Rose-ringed Parakeets screech overhead as Spot-billed Ducks glide across the water\, and the marsh’s ibis population — Glossy Ibis and Black-headed Ibis both — probes the mud for food. A Black Kite circles above\, a Little Grebe dives and resurfaces near the reeds\, and Red-wattled Lapwings call sharply from the open ground. Closer to the marsh edge\, an Asian Green Bee-eater hawks from a low perch\, an Asian Koel calls from nearby trees\, and a Common Tailorbird and Ashy Prinia work the scrub while a Gray Heron stands motionless at the water’s edge — a snapshot of just how much life this shrinking marsh still holds. \n \n \n \n \n Indian Cormorant \n \n \n \n Spot-billed Pelican \n \n \n \n Black Drongo \n \n \n \n Black-winged Stilt \n \n \n \n Little Egret \n \n \n \n Oriental Darter \n \n \n \n Rose-ringed Parakeet \n \n \n \n Indian Spot-billed Duck \n \n \n \n Glossy Ibis \n \n \n \n Black-headed Ibis \n \n \n \n Black Kite \n \n \n \n Little Grebe \n \n \n \n Red-wattled Lapwing \n \n \n \n Asian Green Bee-eater \n \n \n \n Asian Koel \n \n \n \n Common Tailorbird \n \n \n \n Gray Heron \n \n \n \n Rock Pigeon \n \n \n \n Common Hawk Cuckoo \n \n \n \n Ashy Prinia \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Summary of Walk \n \n \n \n Guided by Francis Anish\, fourteen participants gathered at the Pallikarnai Marshland in Chennai to witness a serene sunrise over one of South India’s most significant wetland ecosystems. This expansive marshland\, an important habitat within the city\, offers a striking contrast of open water\, reed beds and grassy patches that draw an impressive variety of resident and migratory birds. \n\nThe walk showcased a wide array of species\, including Little and Indian Cormorants\, Painted Storks\, Black-winged Stilts\, Blue-tailed Bee-eaters\, and both Common and White-throated Kingfishers. Spot-billed Pelicans were seen perching on electrical towers\, alongside Indian Spot-billed Ducks\, Grey and Purple Herons\, and Yellow-billed Babblers. The standout sightings of the morning were the elusive Greater Painted Snipe\, Wood Sandpipers and Tricoloured Munias\, delighting the group with their rarity. It was a beautifully immersive morning that highlighted the ecological richness thriving within Pallikarnai’s wetlands. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Number of Participants \n \n 0 URL:https://ataavi.org/event/bird-walk-at-saul-kere-bengaluru-ka/ CATEGORIES:Birding Bharat ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ataavi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/IMG_6835.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260815T053000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260815T073000 DTSTAMP:20261024T124353 CREATED:20260810T101619Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260819T061359Z UID:15651-1786771800-1786779000@ataavi.org SUMMARY:Bird Walk at Chambal Garden \, Kota\, Rajasthan DESCRIPTION:Bird Walk at Pallikarnai Marshland\, Chennai\, TN \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Chennai\n \n \n \n \n 29 August\, 2026\n \n \n \n \n Francis Anish\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai is one of the last big freshwater marshes left inside a major Indian metropolis\, hemmed in on all sides by Chennai’s IT corridor along Old Mahabalipuram Road. It is a shadow of its former self — the marsh once spread across some 6\,000 hectares but has been squeezed down to under 600 by decades of landfilling\, road-building\, and unplanned growth — yet what survives is still an internationally important wetland\, formally recognised as a Ramsar site in 2022. Its mix of open water\, reed beds\, and seasonally flooded grassland supports more than 100 recorded fauna species and around 275 plant species\, an extraordinary tally for a site now boxed in by apartment towers on almost every side. \n \n \n \n For birders\, Pallikaranai remains a genuine city-edge spectacle\, drawing waterbirds\, waders\, and raptors that would otherwise have nowhere left to go in urban Chennai. The marsh’s fortunes have been a battleground for years\, with waste dumping by the city corporation\, construction debris\, and pressure from nearby IT campuses steadily chipping away at what is left\, even as eco-restoration work — including a public eco-park opened in 2021 — tries to hold the line. Its Ramsar status has raised its profile considerably\, but conservationists are candid that the gap between protection on paper and protection on the ground remains wide.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird Guide: Francis AnishHe is an ornithologist and avid birdwatcher with over three years of research experience at the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)\, Coimbatore. His work includes research on the Critically Endangered White-bellied Heron\, reflecting his strong interest in bird conservation and ecology. Beyond research\, he regularly explores the field as a passionate birder\, deepening his understanding of bird behavior and habitats. He has also volunteered as a bird expert for the Tamil Nadu Forest Department's raptor survey in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve\, contributing to important wildlife monitoring and conservation efforts.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird walk Location \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Common birds of Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai’s open water and reed beds pack in a lively mix of waterbirds and city-edge regulars\, visible even on a short walk along the marsh boundary. Indian Cormorants and a Spot-billed Pelican work the open water together\, while a Black Drongo watches from a wire and Black-winged Stilts pick through the shallows on impossibly long legs. Egrets are well represented\, with both the Little Egret and Medium Egret stalking the margins alongside an Oriental Darter drying its wings on a snag. Rose-ringed Parakeets screech overhead as Spot-billed Ducks glide across the water\, and the marsh’s ibis population — Glossy Ibis and Black-headed Ibis both — probes the mud for food. A Black Kite circles above\, a Little Grebe dives and resurfaces near the reeds\, and Red-wattled Lapwings call sharply from the open ground. Closer to the marsh edge\, an Asian Green Bee-eater hawks from a low perch\, an Asian Koel calls from nearby trees\, and a Common Tailorbird and Ashy Prinia work the scrub while a Gray Heron stands motionless at the water’s edge — a snapshot of just how much life this shrinking marsh still holds. \n \n \n \n \n Indian Cormorant \n \n \n \n Spot-billed Pelican \n \n \n \n Black Drongo \n \n \n \n Black-winged Stilt \n \n \n \n Little Egret \n \n \n \n Oriental Darter \n \n \n \n Rose-ringed Parakeet \n \n \n \n Indian Spot-billed Duck \n \n \n \n Glossy Ibis \n \n \n \n Black-headed Ibis \n \n \n \n Black Kite \n \n \n \n Little Grebe \n \n \n \n Red-wattled Lapwing \n \n \n \n Asian Green Bee-eater \n \n \n \n Asian Koel \n \n \n \n Common Tailorbird \n \n \n \n Gray Heron \n \n \n \n Rock Pigeon \n \n \n \n Common Hawk Cuckoo \n \n \n \n Ashy Prinia \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Summary of Walk \n \n \n \n Guided by Francis Anish\, fourteen participants gathered at the Pallikarnai Marshland in Chennai to witness a serene sunrise over one of South India’s most significant wetland ecosystems. This expansive marshland\, an important habitat within the city\, offers a striking contrast of open water\, reed beds and grassy patches that draw an impressive variety of resident and migratory birds. \n\nThe walk showcased a wide array of species\, including Little and Indian Cormorants\, Painted Storks\, Black-winged Stilts\, Blue-tailed Bee-eaters\, and both Common and White-throated Kingfishers. Spot-billed Pelicans were seen perching on electrical towers\, alongside Indian Spot-billed Ducks\, Grey and Purple Herons\, and Yellow-billed Babblers. The standout sightings of the morning were the elusive Greater Painted Snipe\, Wood Sandpipers and Tricoloured Munias\, delighting the group with their rarity. It was a beautifully immersive morning that highlighted the ecological richness thriving within Pallikarnai’s wetlands. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Number of Participants \n \n 0 URL:https://ataavi.org/event/bird-walk-at-chambal-garden-kota-rajasthan-2/ CATEGORIES:Birding Bharat ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ataavi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/1000380142.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260809T170000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260809T190000 DTSTAMP:20261024T124353 CREATED:20260731T105133Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T090147Z UID:15274-1786294800-1786302000@ataavi.org SUMMARY:Bird Walk at Jahanpanah City Forest\, Delhi DESCRIPTION:Bird Walk at Pallikarnai Marshland\, Chennai\, TN \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Chennai\n \n \n \n \n 29 August\, 2026\n \n \n \n \n Francis Anish\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai is one of the last big freshwater marshes left inside a major Indian metropolis\, hemmed in on all sides by Chennai’s IT corridor along Old Mahabalipuram Road. It is a shadow of its former self — the marsh once spread across some 6\,000 hectares but has been squeezed down to under 600 by decades of landfilling\, road-building\, and unplanned growth — yet what survives is still an internationally important wetland\, formally recognised as a Ramsar site in 2022. Its mix of open water\, reed beds\, and seasonally flooded grassland supports more than 100 recorded fauna species and around 275 plant species\, an extraordinary tally for a site now boxed in by apartment towers on almost every side. \n \n \n \n For birders\, Pallikaranai remains a genuine city-edge spectacle\, drawing waterbirds\, waders\, and raptors that would otherwise have nowhere left to go in urban Chennai. The marsh’s fortunes have been a battleground for years\, with waste dumping by the city corporation\, construction debris\, and pressure from nearby IT campuses steadily chipping away at what is left\, even as eco-restoration work — including a public eco-park opened in 2021 — tries to hold the line. Its Ramsar status has raised its profile considerably\, but conservationists are candid that the gap between protection on paper and protection on the ground remains wide.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird Guide: Francis AnishHe is an ornithologist and avid birdwatcher with over three years of research experience at the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)\, Coimbatore. His work includes research on the Critically Endangered White-bellied Heron\, reflecting his strong interest in bird conservation and ecology. Beyond research\, he regularly explores the field as a passionate birder\, deepening his understanding of bird behavior and habitats. He has also volunteered as a bird expert for the Tamil Nadu Forest Department's raptor survey in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve\, contributing to important wildlife monitoring and conservation efforts.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird walk Location \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Common birds of Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai’s open water and reed beds pack in a lively mix of waterbirds and city-edge regulars\, visible even on a short walk along the marsh boundary. Indian Cormorants and a Spot-billed Pelican work the open water together\, while a Black Drongo watches from a wire and Black-winged Stilts pick through the shallows on impossibly long legs. Egrets are well represented\, with both the Little Egret and Medium Egret stalking the margins alongside an Oriental Darter drying its wings on a snag. Rose-ringed Parakeets screech overhead as Spot-billed Ducks glide across the water\, and the marsh’s ibis population — Glossy Ibis and Black-headed Ibis both — probes the mud for food. A Black Kite circles above\, a Little Grebe dives and resurfaces near the reeds\, and Red-wattled Lapwings call sharply from the open ground. Closer to the marsh edge\, an Asian Green Bee-eater hawks from a low perch\, an Asian Koel calls from nearby trees\, and a Common Tailorbird and Ashy Prinia work the scrub while a Gray Heron stands motionless at the water’s edge — a snapshot of just how much life this shrinking marsh still holds. \n \n \n \n \n Indian Cormorant \n \n \n \n Spot-billed Pelican \n \n \n \n Black Drongo \n \n \n \n Black-winged Stilt \n \n \n \n Little Egret \n \n \n \n Oriental Darter \n \n \n \n Rose-ringed Parakeet \n \n \n \n Indian Spot-billed Duck \n \n \n \n Glossy Ibis \n \n \n \n Black-headed Ibis \n \n \n \n Black Kite \n \n \n \n Little Grebe \n \n \n \n Red-wattled Lapwing \n \n \n \n Asian Green Bee-eater \n \n \n \n Asian Koel \n \n \n \n Common Tailorbird \n \n \n \n Gray Heron \n \n \n \n Rock Pigeon \n \n \n \n Common Hawk Cuckoo \n \n \n \n Ashy Prinia \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Summary of Walk \n \n \n \n Guided by Francis Anish\, fourteen participants gathered at the Pallikarnai Marshland in Chennai to witness a serene sunrise over one of South India’s most significant wetland ecosystems. This expansive marshland\, an important habitat within the city\, offers a striking contrast of open water\, reed beds and grassy patches that draw an impressive variety of resident and migratory birds. \n\nThe walk showcased a wide array of species\, including Little and Indian Cormorants\, Painted Storks\, Black-winged Stilts\, Blue-tailed Bee-eaters\, and both Common and White-throated Kingfishers. Spot-billed Pelicans were seen perching on electrical towers\, alongside Indian Spot-billed Ducks\, Grey and Purple Herons\, and Yellow-billed Babblers. The standout sightings of the morning were the elusive Greater Painted Snipe\, Wood Sandpipers and Tricoloured Munias\, delighting the group with their rarity. It was a beautifully immersive morning that highlighted the ecological richness thriving within Pallikarnai’s wetlands. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Number of Participants \n \n 0 URL:https://ataavi.org/event/bird-walk-at-jahanpanah-city-forest-delhi-ab/ CATEGORIES:Birding Bharat ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ataavi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260809_183940-scaled.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260809T163000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260809T183000 DTSTAMP:20261024T124353 CREATED:20260731T110022Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T090656Z UID:15279-1786293000-1786300200@ataavi.org SUMMARY:Bird Walk at Dr. Y.S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry\, Solan\, Himachal Pradesh DESCRIPTION:Bird Walk at Pallikarnai Marshland\, Chennai\, TN \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Chennai\n \n \n \n \n 29 August\, 2026\n \n \n \n \n Francis Anish\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai is one of the last big freshwater marshes left inside a major Indian metropolis\, hemmed in on all sides by Chennai’s IT corridor along Old Mahabalipuram Road. It is a shadow of its former self — the marsh once spread across some 6\,000 hectares but has been squeezed down to under 600 by decades of landfilling\, road-building\, and unplanned growth — yet what survives is still an internationally important wetland\, formally recognised as a Ramsar site in 2022. Its mix of open water\, reed beds\, and seasonally flooded grassland supports more than 100 recorded fauna species and around 275 plant species\, an extraordinary tally for a site now boxed in by apartment towers on almost every side. \n \n \n \n For birders\, Pallikaranai remains a genuine city-edge spectacle\, drawing waterbirds\, waders\, and raptors that would otherwise have nowhere left to go in urban Chennai. The marsh’s fortunes have been a battleground for years\, with waste dumping by the city corporation\, construction debris\, and pressure from nearby IT campuses steadily chipping away at what is left\, even as eco-restoration work — including a public eco-park opened in 2021 — tries to hold the line. Its Ramsar status has raised its profile considerably\, but conservationists are candid that the gap between protection on paper and protection on the ground remains wide.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird Guide: Francis AnishHe is an ornithologist and avid birdwatcher with over three years of research experience at the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)\, Coimbatore. His work includes research on the Critically Endangered White-bellied Heron\, reflecting his strong interest in bird conservation and ecology. Beyond research\, he regularly explores the field as a passionate birder\, deepening his understanding of bird behavior and habitats. He has also volunteered as a bird expert for the Tamil Nadu Forest Department's raptor survey in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve\, contributing to important wildlife monitoring and conservation efforts.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird walk Location \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Common birds of Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai’s open water and reed beds pack in a lively mix of waterbirds and city-edge regulars\, visible even on a short walk along the marsh boundary. Indian Cormorants and a Spot-billed Pelican work the open water together\, while a Black Drongo watches from a wire and Black-winged Stilts pick through the shallows on impossibly long legs. Egrets are well represented\, with both the Little Egret and Medium Egret stalking the margins alongside an Oriental Darter drying its wings on a snag. Rose-ringed Parakeets screech overhead as Spot-billed Ducks glide across the water\, and the marsh’s ibis population — Glossy Ibis and Black-headed Ibis both — probes the mud for food. A Black Kite circles above\, a Little Grebe dives and resurfaces near the reeds\, and Red-wattled Lapwings call sharply from the open ground. Closer to the marsh edge\, an Asian Green Bee-eater hawks from a low perch\, an Asian Koel calls from nearby trees\, and a Common Tailorbird and Ashy Prinia work the scrub while a Gray Heron stands motionless at the water’s edge — a snapshot of just how much life this shrinking marsh still holds. \n \n \n \n \n Indian Cormorant \n \n \n \n Spot-billed Pelican \n \n \n \n Black Drongo \n \n \n \n Black-winged Stilt \n \n \n \n Little Egret \n \n \n \n Oriental Darter \n \n \n \n Rose-ringed Parakeet \n \n \n \n Indian Spot-billed Duck \n \n \n \n Glossy Ibis \n \n \n \n Black-headed Ibis \n \n \n \n Black Kite \n \n \n \n Little Grebe \n \n \n \n Red-wattled Lapwing \n \n \n \n Asian Green Bee-eater \n \n \n \n Asian Koel \n \n \n \n Common Tailorbird \n \n \n \n Gray Heron \n \n \n \n Rock Pigeon \n \n \n \n Common Hawk Cuckoo \n \n \n \n Ashy Prinia \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Summary of Walk \n \n \n \n Guided by Francis Anish\, fourteen participants gathered at the Pallikarnai Marshland in Chennai to witness a serene sunrise over one of South India’s most significant wetland ecosystems. This expansive marshland\, an important habitat within the city\, offers a striking contrast of open water\, reed beds and grassy patches that draw an impressive variety of resident and migratory birds. \n\nThe walk showcased a wide array of species\, including Little and Indian Cormorants\, Painted Storks\, Black-winged Stilts\, Blue-tailed Bee-eaters\, and both Common and White-throated Kingfishers. Spot-billed Pelicans were seen perching on electrical towers\, alongside Indian Spot-billed Ducks\, Grey and Purple Herons\, and Yellow-billed Babblers. The standout sightings of the morning were the elusive Greater Painted Snipe\, Wood Sandpipers and Tricoloured Munias\, delighting the group with their rarity. It was a beautifully immersive morning that highlighted the ecological richness thriving within Pallikarnai’s wetlands. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Number of Participants \n \n 0 URL:https://ataavi.org/event/bird-walk-at-ys-parmar-university-of-horticulture-and-forestry-solan-hp/ CATEGORIES:Birding Bharat ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ataavi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/PXL_20260809_122735588-scaled.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260809T150000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260809T170000 DTSTAMP:20261024T124353 CREATED:20260731T095347Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T083653Z UID:15261-1786287600-1786294800@ataavi.org SUMMARY:Bird walk at Eco Park Pakhibitan with visit to Butterfly Lab and mini bird museum\, Kolkata DESCRIPTION:Bird Walk at Pallikarnai Marshland\, Chennai\, TN \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Chennai\n \n \n \n \n 29 August\, 2026\n \n \n \n \n Francis Anish\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai is one of the last big freshwater marshes left inside a major Indian metropolis\, hemmed in on all sides by Chennai’s IT corridor along Old Mahabalipuram Road. It is a shadow of its former self — the marsh once spread across some 6\,000 hectares but has been squeezed down to under 600 by decades of landfilling\, road-building\, and unplanned growth — yet what survives is still an internationally important wetland\, formally recognised as a Ramsar site in 2022. Its mix of open water\, reed beds\, and seasonally flooded grassland supports more than 100 recorded fauna species and around 275 plant species\, an extraordinary tally for a site now boxed in by apartment towers on almost every side. \n \n \n \n For birders\, Pallikaranai remains a genuine city-edge spectacle\, drawing waterbirds\, waders\, and raptors that would otherwise have nowhere left to go in urban Chennai. The marsh’s fortunes have been a battleground for years\, with waste dumping by the city corporation\, construction debris\, and pressure from nearby IT campuses steadily chipping away at what is left\, even as eco-restoration work — including a public eco-park opened in 2021 — tries to hold the line. Its Ramsar status has raised its profile considerably\, but conservationists are candid that the gap between protection on paper and protection on the ground remains wide.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird Guide: Francis AnishHe is an ornithologist and avid birdwatcher with over three years of research experience at the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)\, Coimbatore. His work includes research on the Critically Endangered White-bellied Heron\, reflecting his strong interest in bird conservation and ecology. Beyond research\, he regularly explores the field as a passionate birder\, deepening his understanding of bird behavior and habitats. He has also volunteered as a bird expert for the Tamil Nadu Forest Department's raptor survey in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve\, contributing to important wildlife monitoring and conservation efforts.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird walk Location \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Common birds of Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai’s open water and reed beds pack in a lively mix of waterbirds and city-edge regulars\, visible even on a short walk along the marsh boundary. Indian Cormorants and a Spot-billed Pelican work the open water together\, while a Black Drongo watches from a wire and Black-winged Stilts pick through the shallows on impossibly long legs. Egrets are well represented\, with both the Little Egret and Medium Egret stalking the margins alongside an Oriental Darter drying its wings on a snag. Rose-ringed Parakeets screech overhead as Spot-billed Ducks glide across the water\, and the marsh’s ibis population — Glossy Ibis and Black-headed Ibis both — probes the mud for food. A Black Kite circles above\, a Little Grebe dives and resurfaces near the reeds\, and Red-wattled Lapwings call sharply from the open ground. Closer to the marsh edge\, an Asian Green Bee-eater hawks from a low perch\, an Asian Koel calls from nearby trees\, and a Common Tailorbird and Ashy Prinia work the scrub while a Gray Heron stands motionless at the water’s edge — a snapshot of just how much life this shrinking marsh still holds. \n \n \n \n \n Indian Cormorant \n \n \n \n Spot-billed Pelican \n \n \n \n Black Drongo \n \n \n \n Black-winged Stilt \n \n \n \n Little Egret \n \n \n \n Oriental Darter \n \n \n \n Rose-ringed Parakeet \n \n \n \n Indian Spot-billed Duck \n \n \n \n Glossy Ibis \n \n \n \n Black-headed Ibis \n \n \n \n Black Kite \n \n \n \n Little Grebe \n \n \n \n Red-wattled Lapwing \n \n \n \n Asian Green Bee-eater \n \n \n \n Asian Koel \n \n \n \n Common Tailorbird \n \n \n \n Gray Heron \n \n \n \n Rock Pigeon \n \n \n \n Common Hawk Cuckoo \n \n \n \n Ashy Prinia \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Summary of Walk \n \n \n \n Guided by Francis Anish\, fourteen participants gathered at the Pallikarnai Marshland in Chennai to witness a serene sunrise over one of South India’s most significant wetland ecosystems. This expansive marshland\, an important habitat within the city\, offers a striking contrast of open water\, reed beds and grassy patches that draw an impressive variety of resident and migratory birds. \n\nThe walk showcased a wide array of species\, including Little and Indian Cormorants\, Painted Storks\, Black-winged Stilts\, Blue-tailed Bee-eaters\, and both Common and White-throated Kingfishers. Spot-billed Pelicans were seen perching on electrical towers\, alongside Indian Spot-billed Ducks\, Grey and Purple Herons\, and Yellow-billed Babblers. The standout sightings of the morning were the elusive Greater Painted Snipe\, Wood Sandpipers and Tricoloured Munias\, delighting the group with their rarity. It was a beautifully immersive morning that highlighted the ecological richness thriving within Pallikarnai’s wetlands. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Number of Participants \n \n 0 URL:https://ataavi.org/event/bird-walk-at-eco-park-pakhibitan-with-visit-to-butterfly-lab-and-mini-bird-museum-kolkata/ CATEGORIES:Birding Bharat ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ataavi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/IMG-20260810-WA0003.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260809T080000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260809T100000 DTSTAMP:20261024T124353 CREATED:20260731T130719Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T090904Z UID:15349-1786262400-1786269600@ataavi.org SUMMARY:Bird Walk at Baruipur Wetland\, West Bengal DESCRIPTION:Bird Walk at Pallikarnai Marshland\, Chennai\, TN \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Chennai\n \n \n \n \n 29 August\, 2026\n \n \n \n \n Francis Anish\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai is one of the last big freshwater marshes left inside a major Indian metropolis\, hemmed in on all sides by Chennai’s IT corridor along Old Mahabalipuram Road. It is a shadow of its former self — the marsh once spread across some 6\,000 hectares but has been squeezed down to under 600 by decades of landfilling\, road-building\, and unplanned growth — yet what survives is still an internationally important wetland\, formally recognised as a Ramsar site in 2022. Its mix of open water\, reed beds\, and seasonally flooded grassland supports more than 100 recorded fauna species and around 275 plant species\, an extraordinary tally for a site now boxed in by apartment towers on almost every side. \n \n \n \n For birders\, Pallikaranai remains a genuine city-edge spectacle\, drawing waterbirds\, waders\, and raptors that would otherwise have nowhere left to go in urban Chennai. The marsh’s fortunes have been a battleground for years\, with waste dumping by the city corporation\, construction debris\, and pressure from nearby IT campuses steadily chipping away at what is left\, even as eco-restoration work — including a public eco-park opened in 2021 — tries to hold the line. Its Ramsar status has raised its profile considerably\, but conservationists are candid that the gap between protection on paper and protection on the ground remains wide.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird Guide: Francis AnishHe is an ornithologist and avid birdwatcher with over three years of research experience at the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)\, Coimbatore. His work includes research on the Critically Endangered White-bellied Heron\, reflecting his strong interest in bird conservation and ecology. Beyond research\, he regularly explores the field as a passionate birder\, deepening his understanding of bird behavior and habitats. He has also volunteered as a bird expert for the Tamil Nadu Forest Department's raptor survey in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve\, contributing to important wildlife monitoring and conservation efforts.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird walk Location \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Common birds of Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai’s open water and reed beds pack in a lively mix of waterbirds and city-edge regulars\, visible even on a short walk along the marsh boundary. Indian Cormorants and a Spot-billed Pelican work the open water together\, while a Black Drongo watches from a wire and Black-winged Stilts pick through the shallows on impossibly long legs. Egrets are well represented\, with both the Little Egret and Medium Egret stalking the margins alongside an Oriental Darter drying its wings on a snag. Rose-ringed Parakeets screech overhead as Spot-billed Ducks glide across the water\, and the marsh’s ibis population — Glossy Ibis and Black-headed Ibis both — probes the mud for food. A Black Kite circles above\, a Little Grebe dives and resurfaces near the reeds\, and Red-wattled Lapwings call sharply from the open ground. Closer to the marsh edge\, an Asian Green Bee-eater hawks from a low perch\, an Asian Koel calls from nearby trees\, and a Common Tailorbird and Ashy Prinia work the scrub while a Gray Heron stands motionless at the water’s edge — a snapshot of just how much life this shrinking marsh still holds. \n \n \n \n \n Indian Cormorant \n \n \n \n Spot-billed Pelican \n \n \n \n Black Drongo \n \n \n \n Black-winged Stilt \n \n \n \n Little Egret \n \n \n \n Oriental Darter \n \n \n \n Rose-ringed Parakeet \n \n \n \n Indian Spot-billed Duck \n \n \n \n Glossy Ibis \n \n \n \n Black-headed Ibis \n \n \n \n Black Kite \n \n \n \n Little Grebe \n \n \n \n Red-wattled Lapwing \n \n \n \n Asian Green Bee-eater \n \n \n \n Asian Koel \n \n \n \n Common Tailorbird \n \n \n \n Gray Heron \n \n \n \n Rock Pigeon \n \n \n \n Common Hawk Cuckoo \n \n \n \n Ashy Prinia \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Summary of Walk \n \n \n \n Guided by Francis Anish\, fourteen participants gathered at the Pallikarnai Marshland in Chennai to witness a serene sunrise over one of South India’s most significant wetland ecosystems. This expansive marshland\, an important habitat within the city\, offers a striking contrast of open water\, reed beds and grassy patches that draw an impressive variety of resident and migratory birds. \n\nThe walk showcased a wide array of species\, including Little and Indian Cormorants\, Painted Storks\, Black-winged Stilts\, Blue-tailed Bee-eaters\, and both Common and White-throated Kingfishers. Spot-billed Pelicans were seen perching on electrical towers\, alongside Indian Spot-billed Ducks\, Grey and Purple Herons\, and Yellow-billed Babblers. The standout sightings of the morning were the elusive Greater Painted Snipe\, Wood Sandpipers and Tricoloured Munias\, delighting the group with their rarity. It was a beautifully immersive morning that highlighted the ecological richness thriving within Pallikarnai’s wetlands. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Number of Participants \n \n 0 URL:https://ataavi.org/event/bird-walk-at-baruipur-wetland-west-bengal-3/ CATEGORIES:Birding Bharat ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ataavi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/8.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260809T073000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260809T093000 DTSTAMP:20261024T124353 CREATED:20260731T114349Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T091037Z UID:15295-1786260600-1786267800@ataavi.org SUMMARY:Bird Walk at Rongtong\, Darjeeling\, WB DESCRIPTION:Bird Walk at Pallikarnai Marshland\, Chennai\, TN \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Chennai\n \n \n \n \n 29 August\, 2026\n \n \n \n \n Francis Anish\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai is one of the last big freshwater marshes left inside a major Indian metropolis\, hemmed in on all sides by Chennai’s IT corridor along Old Mahabalipuram Road. It is a shadow of its former self — the marsh once spread across some 6\,000 hectares but has been squeezed down to under 600 by decades of landfilling\, road-building\, and unplanned growth — yet what survives is still an internationally important wetland\, formally recognised as a Ramsar site in 2022. Its mix of open water\, reed beds\, and seasonally flooded grassland supports more than 100 recorded fauna species and around 275 plant species\, an extraordinary tally for a site now boxed in by apartment towers on almost every side. \n \n \n \n For birders\, Pallikaranai remains a genuine city-edge spectacle\, drawing waterbirds\, waders\, and raptors that would otherwise have nowhere left to go in urban Chennai. The marsh’s fortunes have been a battleground for years\, with waste dumping by the city corporation\, construction debris\, and pressure from nearby IT campuses steadily chipping away at what is left\, even as eco-restoration work — including a public eco-park opened in 2021 — tries to hold the line. Its Ramsar status has raised its profile considerably\, but conservationists are candid that the gap between protection on paper and protection on the ground remains wide.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird Guide: Francis AnishHe is an ornithologist and avid birdwatcher with over three years of research experience at the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)\, Coimbatore. His work includes research on the Critically Endangered White-bellied Heron\, reflecting his strong interest in bird conservation and ecology. Beyond research\, he regularly explores the field as a passionate birder\, deepening his understanding of bird behavior and habitats. He has also volunteered as a bird expert for the Tamil Nadu Forest Department's raptor survey in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve\, contributing to important wildlife monitoring and conservation efforts.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird walk Location \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Common birds of Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai’s open water and reed beds pack in a lively mix of waterbirds and city-edge regulars\, visible even on a short walk along the marsh boundary. Indian Cormorants and a Spot-billed Pelican work the open water together\, while a Black Drongo watches from a wire and Black-winged Stilts pick through the shallows on impossibly long legs. Egrets are well represented\, with both the Little Egret and Medium Egret stalking the margins alongside an Oriental Darter drying its wings on a snag. Rose-ringed Parakeets screech overhead as Spot-billed Ducks glide across the water\, and the marsh’s ibis population — Glossy Ibis and Black-headed Ibis both — probes the mud for food. A Black Kite circles above\, a Little Grebe dives and resurfaces near the reeds\, and Red-wattled Lapwings call sharply from the open ground. Closer to the marsh edge\, an Asian Green Bee-eater hawks from a low perch\, an Asian Koel calls from nearby trees\, and a Common Tailorbird and Ashy Prinia work the scrub while a Gray Heron stands motionless at the water’s edge — a snapshot of just how much life this shrinking marsh still holds. \n \n \n \n \n Indian Cormorant \n \n \n \n Spot-billed Pelican \n \n \n \n Black Drongo \n \n \n \n Black-winged Stilt \n \n \n \n Little Egret \n \n \n \n Oriental Darter \n \n \n \n Rose-ringed Parakeet \n \n \n \n Indian Spot-billed Duck \n \n \n \n Glossy Ibis \n \n \n \n Black-headed Ibis \n \n \n \n Black Kite \n \n \n \n Little Grebe \n \n \n \n Red-wattled Lapwing \n \n \n \n Asian Green Bee-eater \n \n \n \n Asian Koel \n \n \n \n Common Tailorbird \n \n \n \n Gray Heron \n \n \n \n Rock Pigeon \n \n \n \n Common Hawk Cuckoo \n \n \n \n Ashy Prinia \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Summary of Walk \n \n \n \n Guided by Francis Anish\, fourteen participants gathered at the Pallikarnai Marshland in Chennai to witness a serene sunrise over one of South India’s most significant wetland ecosystems. This expansive marshland\, an important habitat within the city\, offers a striking contrast of open water\, reed beds and grassy patches that draw an impressive variety of resident and migratory birds. \n\nThe walk showcased a wide array of species\, including Little and Indian Cormorants\, Painted Storks\, Black-winged Stilts\, Blue-tailed Bee-eaters\, and both Common and White-throated Kingfishers. Spot-billed Pelicans were seen perching on electrical towers\, alongside Indian Spot-billed Ducks\, Grey and Purple Herons\, and Yellow-billed Babblers. The standout sightings of the morning were the elusive Greater Painted Snipe\, Wood Sandpipers and Tricoloured Munias\, delighting the group with their rarity. It was a beautifully immersive morning that highlighted the ecological richness thriving within Pallikarnai’s wetlands. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Number of Participants \n \n 0 URL:https://ataavi.org/event/bird-walk-at-rongtong-darjeeling-forest-wb/ CATEGORIES:Birding Bharat ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ataavi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WhatsApp-Image-2026-08-09-at-07.19.05.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260809T070000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260809T090000 DTSTAMP:20261024T124354 CREATED:20260731T140854Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T091149Z UID:15371-1786258800-1786266000@ataavi.org SUMMARY:Bird Walk at BNHS Conservation Education Centre\, Mumbai\, Maharashtra DESCRIPTION:Bird Walk at Pallikarnai Marshland\, Chennai\, TN \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Chennai\n \n \n \n \n 29 August\, 2026\n \n \n \n \n Francis Anish\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai is one of the last big freshwater marshes left inside a major Indian metropolis\, hemmed in on all sides by Chennai’s IT corridor along Old Mahabalipuram Road. It is a shadow of its former self — the marsh once spread across some 6\,000 hectares but has been squeezed down to under 600 by decades of landfilling\, road-building\, and unplanned growth — yet what survives is still an internationally important wetland\, formally recognised as a Ramsar site in 2022. Its mix of open water\, reed beds\, and seasonally flooded grassland supports more than 100 recorded fauna species and around 275 plant species\, an extraordinary tally for a site now boxed in by apartment towers on almost every side. \n \n \n \n For birders\, Pallikaranai remains a genuine city-edge spectacle\, drawing waterbirds\, waders\, and raptors that would otherwise have nowhere left to go in urban Chennai. The marsh’s fortunes have been a battleground for years\, with waste dumping by the city corporation\, construction debris\, and pressure from nearby IT campuses steadily chipping away at what is left\, even as eco-restoration work — including a public eco-park opened in 2021 — tries to hold the line. Its Ramsar status has raised its profile considerably\, but conservationists are candid that the gap between protection on paper and protection on the ground remains wide.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird Guide: Francis AnishHe is an ornithologist and avid birdwatcher with over three years of research experience at the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)\, Coimbatore. His work includes research on the Critically Endangered White-bellied Heron\, reflecting his strong interest in bird conservation and ecology. Beyond research\, he regularly explores the field as a passionate birder\, deepening his understanding of bird behavior and habitats. He has also volunteered as a bird expert for the Tamil Nadu Forest Department's raptor survey in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve\, contributing to important wildlife monitoring and conservation efforts.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird walk Location \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Common birds of Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai’s open water and reed beds pack in a lively mix of waterbirds and city-edge regulars\, visible even on a short walk along the marsh boundary. Indian Cormorants and a Spot-billed Pelican work the open water together\, while a Black Drongo watches from a wire and Black-winged Stilts pick through the shallows on impossibly long legs. Egrets are well represented\, with both the Little Egret and Medium Egret stalking the margins alongside an Oriental Darter drying its wings on a snag. Rose-ringed Parakeets screech overhead as Spot-billed Ducks glide across the water\, and the marsh’s ibis population — Glossy Ibis and Black-headed Ibis both — probes the mud for food. A Black Kite circles above\, a Little Grebe dives and resurfaces near the reeds\, and Red-wattled Lapwings call sharply from the open ground. Closer to the marsh edge\, an Asian Green Bee-eater hawks from a low perch\, an Asian Koel calls from nearby trees\, and a Common Tailorbird and Ashy Prinia work the scrub while a Gray Heron stands motionless at the water’s edge — a snapshot of just how much life this shrinking marsh still holds. \n \n \n \n \n Indian Cormorant \n \n \n \n Spot-billed Pelican \n \n \n \n Black Drongo \n \n \n \n Black-winged Stilt \n \n \n \n Little Egret \n \n \n \n Oriental Darter \n \n \n \n Rose-ringed Parakeet \n \n \n \n Indian Spot-billed Duck \n \n \n \n Glossy Ibis \n \n \n \n Black-headed Ibis \n \n \n \n Black Kite \n \n \n \n Little Grebe \n \n \n \n Red-wattled Lapwing \n \n \n \n Asian Green Bee-eater \n \n \n \n Asian Koel \n \n \n \n Common Tailorbird \n \n \n \n Gray Heron \n \n \n \n Rock Pigeon \n \n \n \n Common Hawk Cuckoo \n \n \n \n Ashy Prinia \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Summary of Walk \n \n \n \n Guided by Francis Anish\, fourteen participants gathered at the Pallikarnai Marshland in Chennai to witness a serene sunrise over one of South India’s most significant wetland ecosystems. This expansive marshland\, an important habitat within the city\, offers a striking contrast of open water\, reed beds and grassy patches that draw an impressive variety of resident and migratory birds. \n\nThe walk showcased a wide array of species\, including Little and Indian Cormorants\, Painted Storks\, Black-winged Stilts\, Blue-tailed Bee-eaters\, and both Common and White-throated Kingfishers. Spot-billed Pelicans were seen perching on electrical towers\, alongside Indian Spot-billed Ducks\, Grey and Purple Herons\, and Yellow-billed Babblers. The standout sightings of the morning were the elusive Greater Painted Snipe\, Wood Sandpipers and Tricoloured Munias\, delighting the group with their rarity. It was a beautifully immersive morning that highlighted the ecological richness thriving within Pallikarnai’s wetlands. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Number of Participants \n \n 0 URL:https://ataavi.org/event/bird-walk-at-bnhs-conservation-education-centre-mumbai-maharashtra-r/ CATEGORIES:Birding Bharat ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ataavi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WhatsApp-Image-2026-08-09-at-11.07.11.jpeg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260809T070000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260809T090000 DTSTAMP:20261024T124354 CREATED:20260731T131317Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T091410Z UID:15360-1786258800-1786266000@ataavi.org SUMMARY:Bird Walk at Thimmasandra Lake\, Bengaluru DESCRIPTION:Bird Walk at Pallikarnai Marshland\, Chennai\, TN \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Chennai\n \n \n \n \n 29 August\, 2026\n \n \n \n \n Francis Anish\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai is one of the last big freshwater marshes left inside a major Indian metropolis\, hemmed in on all sides by Chennai’s IT corridor along Old Mahabalipuram Road. It is a shadow of its former self — the marsh once spread across some 6\,000 hectares but has been squeezed down to under 600 by decades of landfilling\, road-building\, and unplanned growth — yet what survives is still an internationally important wetland\, formally recognised as a Ramsar site in 2022. Its mix of open water\, reed beds\, and seasonally flooded grassland supports more than 100 recorded fauna species and around 275 plant species\, an extraordinary tally for a site now boxed in by apartment towers on almost every side. \n \n \n \n For birders\, Pallikaranai remains a genuine city-edge spectacle\, drawing waterbirds\, waders\, and raptors that would otherwise have nowhere left to go in urban Chennai. The marsh’s fortunes have been a battleground for years\, with waste dumping by the city corporation\, construction debris\, and pressure from nearby IT campuses steadily chipping away at what is left\, even as eco-restoration work — including a public eco-park opened in 2021 — tries to hold the line. Its Ramsar status has raised its profile considerably\, but conservationists are candid that the gap between protection on paper and protection on the ground remains wide.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird Guide: Francis AnishHe is an ornithologist and avid birdwatcher with over three years of research experience at the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)\, Coimbatore. His work includes research on the Critically Endangered White-bellied Heron\, reflecting his strong interest in bird conservation and ecology. Beyond research\, he regularly explores the field as a passionate birder\, deepening his understanding of bird behavior and habitats. He has also volunteered as a bird expert for the Tamil Nadu Forest Department's raptor survey in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve\, contributing to important wildlife monitoring and conservation efforts.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird walk Location \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Common birds of Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai’s open water and reed beds pack in a lively mix of waterbirds and city-edge regulars\, visible even on a short walk along the marsh boundary. Indian Cormorants and a Spot-billed Pelican work the open water together\, while a Black Drongo watches from a wire and Black-winged Stilts pick through the shallows on impossibly long legs. Egrets are well represented\, with both the Little Egret and Medium Egret stalking the margins alongside an Oriental Darter drying its wings on a snag. Rose-ringed Parakeets screech overhead as Spot-billed Ducks glide across the water\, and the marsh’s ibis population — Glossy Ibis and Black-headed Ibis both — probes the mud for food. A Black Kite circles above\, a Little Grebe dives and resurfaces near the reeds\, and Red-wattled Lapwings call sharply from the open ground. Closer to the marsh edge\, an Asian Green Bee-eater hawks from a low perch\, an Asian Koel calls from nearby trees\, and a Common Tailorbird and Ashy Prinia work the scrub while a Gray Heron stands motionless at the water’s edge — a snapshot of just how much life this shrinking marsh still holds. \n \n \n \n \n Indian Cormorant \n \n \n \n Spot-billed Pelican \n \n \n \n Black Drongo \n \n \n \n Black-winged Stilt \n \n \n \n Little Egret \n \n \n \n Oriental Darter \n \n \n \n Rose-ringed Parakeet \n \n \n \n Indian Spot-billed Duck \n \n \n \n Glossy Ibis \n \n \n \n Black-headed Ibis \n \n \n \n Black Kite \n \n \n \n Little Grebe \n \n \n \n Red-wattled Lapwing \n \n \n \n Asian Green Bee-eater \n \n \n \n Asian Koel \n \n \n \n Common Tailorbird \n \n \n \n Gray Heron \n \n \n \n Rock Pigeon \n \n \n \n Common Hawk Cuckoo \n \n \n \n Ashy Prinia \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Summary of Walk \n \n \n \n Guided by Francis Anish\, fourteen participants gathered at the Pallikarnai Marshland in Chennai to witness a serene sunrise over one of South India’s most significant wetland ecosystems. This expansive marshland\, an important habitat within the city\, offers a striking contrast of open water\, reed beds and grassy patches that draw an impressive variety of resident and migratory birds. \n\nThe walk showcased a wide array of species\, including Little and Indian Cormorants\, Painted Storks\, Black-winged Stilts\, Blue-tailed Bee-eaters\, and both Common and White-throated Kingfishers. Spot-billed Pelicans were seen perching on electrical towers\, alongside Indian Spot-billed Ducks\, Grey and Purple Herons\, and Yellow-billed Babblers. The standout sightings of the morning were the elusive Greater Painted Snipe\, Wood Sandpipers and Tricoloured Munias\, delighting the group with their rarity. It was a beautifully immersive morning that highlighted the ecological richness thriving within Pallikarnai’s wetlands. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Number of Participants \n \n 0 URL:https://ataavi.org/event/bird-walk-at-thimmasandra-lake-bengaluru-2/ CATEGORIES:Birding Bharat ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ataavi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/IMG-20260809-WA0025.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260809T070000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260809T090000 DTSTAMP:20261024T124354 CREATED:20260731T125801Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T091637Z UID:15338-1786258800-1786266000@ataavi.org SUMMARY:Bird walk at Pashan-Baner hill\, Pune\, Maharashtra DESCRIPTION:Bird Walk at Pallikarnai Marshland\, Chennai\, TN \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Chennai\n \n \n \n \n 29 August\, 2026\n \n \n \n \n Francis Anish\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai is one of the last big freshwater marshes left inside a major Indian metropolis\, hemmed in on all sides by Chennai’s IT corridor along Old Mahabalipuram Road. It is a shadow of its former self — the marsh once spread across some 6\,000 hectares but has been squeezed down to under 600 by decades of landfilling\, road-building\, and unplanned growth — yet what survives is still an internationally important wetland\, formally recognised as a Ramsar site in 2022. Its mix of open water\, reed beds\, and seasonally flooded grassland supports more than 100 recorded fauna species and around 275 plant species\, an extraordinary tally for a site now boxed in by apartment towers on almost every side. \n \n \n \n For birders\, Pallikaranai remains a genuine city-edge spectacle\, drawing waterbirds\, waders\, and raptors that would otherwise have nowhere left to go in urban Chennai. The marsh’s fortunes have been a battleground for years\, with waste dumping by the city corporation\, construction debris\, and pressure from nearby IT campuses steadily chipping away at what is left\, even as eco-restoration work — including a public eco-park opened in 2021 — tries to hold the line. Its Ramsar status has raised its profile considerably\, but conservationists are candid that the gap between protection on paper and protection on the ground remains wide.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird Guide: Francis AnishHe is an ornithologist and avid birdwatcher with over three years of research experience at the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)\, Coimbatore. His work includes research on the Critically Endangered White-bellied Heron\, reflecting his strong interest in bird conservation and ecology. Beyond research\, he regularly explores the field as a passionate birder\, deepening his understanding of bird behavior and habitats. He has also volunteered as a bird expert for the Tamil Nadu Forest Department's raptor survey in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve\, contributing to important wildlife monitoring and conservation efforts.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird walk Location \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Common birds of Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai’s open water and reed beds pack in a lively mix of waterbirds and city-edge regulars\, visible even on a short walk along the marsh boundary. Indian Cormorants and a Spot-billed Pelican work the open water together\, while a Black Drongo watches from a wire and Black-winged Stilts pick through the shallows on impossibly long legs. Egrets are well represented\, with both the Little Egret and Medium Egret stalking the margins alongside an Oriental Darter drying its wings on a snag. Rose-ringed Parakeets screech overhead as Spot-billed Ducks glide across the water\, and the marsh’s ibis population — Glossy Ibis and Black-headed Ibis both — probes the mud for food. A Black Kite circles above\, a Little Grebe dives and resurfaces near the reeds\, and Red-wattled Lapwings call sharply from the open ground. Closer to the marsh edge\, an Asian Green Bee-eater hawks from a low perch\, an Asian Koel calls from nearby trees\, and a Common Tailorbird and Ashy Prinia work the scrub while a Gray Heron stands motionless at the water’s edge — a snapshot of just how much life this shrinking marsh still holds. \n \n \n \n \n Indian Cormorant \n \n \n \n Spot-billed Pelican \n \n \n \n Black Drongo \n \n \n \n Black-winged Stilt \n \n \n \n Little Egret \n \n \n \n Oriental Darter \n \n \n \n Rose-ringed Parakeet \n \n \n \n Indian Spot-billed Duck \n \n \n \n Glossy Ibis \n \n \n \n Black-headed Ibis \n \n \n \n Black Kite \n \n \n \n Little Grebe \n \n \n \n Red-wattled Lapwing \n \n \n \n Asian Green Bee-eater \n \n \n \n Asian Koel \n \n \n \n Common Tailorbird \n \n \n \n Gray Heron \n \n \n \n Rock Pigeon \n \n \n \n Common Hawk Cuckoo \n \n \n \n Ashy Prinia \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Summary of Walk \n \n \n \n Guided by Francis Anish\, fourteen participants gathered at the Pallikarnai Marshland in Chennai to witness a serene sunrise over one of South India’s most significant wetland ecosystems. This expansive marshland\, an important habitat within the city\, offers a striking contrast of open water\, reed beds and grassy patches that draw an impressive variety of resident and migratory birds. \n\nThe walk showcased a wide array of species\, including Little and Indian Cormorants\, Painted Storks\, Black-winged Stilts\, Blue-tailed Bee-eaters\, and both Common and White-throated Kingfishers. Spot-billed Pelicans were seen perching on electrical towers\, alongside Indian Spot-billed Ducks\, Grey and Purple Herons\, and Yellow-billed Babblers. The standout sightings of the morning were the elusive Greater Painted Snipe\, Wood Sandpipers and Tricoloured Munias\, delighting the group with their rarity. It was a beautifully immersive morning that highlighted the ecological richness thriving within Pallikarnai’s wetlands. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Number of Participants \n \n 0 URL:https://ataavi.org/event/bird-walk-at-pashan-baner-hill-pune-maharashtra-13/ CATEGORIES:Birding Bharat ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ataavi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WhatsApp-Image-2026-08-10-at-08.39.33.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260809T070000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260809T090000 DTSTAMP:20261024T124354 CREATED:20260731T101700Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T084834Z UID:15266-1786258800-1786266000@ataavi.org SUMMARY:Bird walk at Zabarwan range\, Srinagar\, J&K DESCRIPTION:Bird Walk at Pallikarnai Marshland\, Chennai\, TN \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Chennai\n \n \n \n \n 29 August\, 2026\n \n \n \n \n Francis Anish\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai is one of the last big freshwater marshes left inside a major Indian metropolis\, hemmed in on all sides by Chennai’s IT corridor along Old Mahabalipuram Road. It is a shadow of its former self — the marsh once spread across some 6\,000 hectares but has been squeezed down to under 600 by decades of landfilling\, road-building\, and unplanned growth — yet what survives is still an internationally important wetland\, formally recognised as a Ramsar site in 2022. Its mix of open water\, reed beds\, and seasonally flooded grassland supports more than 100 recorded fauna species and around 275 plant species\, an extraordinary tally for a site now boxed in by apartment towers on almost every side. \n \n \n \n For birders\, Pallikaranai remains a genuine city-edge spectacle\, drawing waterbirds\, waders\, and raptors that would otherwise have nowhere left to go in urban Chennai. The marsh’s fortunes have been a battleground for years\, with waste dumping by the city corporation\, construction debris\, and pressure from nearby IT campuses steadily chipping away at what is left\, even as eco-restoration work — including a public eco-park opened in 2021 — tries to hold the line. Its Ramsar status has raised its profile considerably\, but conservationists are candid that the gap between protection on paper and protection on the ground remains wide.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird Guide: Francis AnishHe is an ornithologist and avid birdwatcher with over three years of research experience at the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)\, Coimbatore. His work includes research on the Critically Endangered White-bellied Heron\, reflecting his strong interest in bird conservation and ecology. Beyond research\, he regularly explores the field as a passionate birder\, deepening his understanding of bird behavior and habitats. He has also volunteered as a bird expert for the Tamil Nadu Forest Department's raptor survey in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve\, contributing to important wildlife monitoring and conservation efforts.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird walk Location \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Common birds of Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai’s open water and reed beds pack in a lively mix of waterbirds and city-edge regulars\, visible even on a short walk along the marsh boundary. Indian Cormorants and a Spot-billed Pelican work the open water together\, while a Black Drongo watches from a wire and Black-winged Stilts pick through the shallows on impossibly long legs. Egrets are well represented\, with both the Little Egret and Medium Egret stalking the margins alongside an Oriental Darter drying its wings on a snag. Rose-ringed Parakeets screech overhead as Spot-billed Ducks glide across the water\, and the marsh’s ibis population — Glossy Ibis and Black-headed Ibis both — probes the mud for food. A Black Kite circles above\, a Little Grebe dives and resurfaces near the reeds\, and Red-wattled Lapwings call sharply from the open ground. Closer to the marsh edge\, an Asian Green Bee-eater hawks from a low perch\, an Asian Koel calls from nearby trees\, and a Common Tailorbird and Ashy Prinia work the scrub while a Gray Heron stands motionless at the water’s edge — a snapshot of just how much life this shrinking marsh still holds. \n \n \n \n \n Indian Cormorant \n \n \n \n Spot-billed Pelican \n \n \n \n Black Drongo \n \n \n \n Black-winged Stilt \n \n \n \n Little Egret \n \n \n \n Oriental Darter \n \n \n \n Rose-ringed Parakeet \n \n \n \n Indian Spot-billed Duck \n \n \n \n Glossy Ibis \n \n \n \n Black-headed Ibis \n \n \n \n Black Kite \n \n \n \n Little Grebe \n \n \n \n Red-wattled Lapwing \n \n \n \n Asian Green Bee-eater \n \n \n \n Asian Koel \n \n \n \n Common Tailorbird \n \n \n \n Gray Heron \n \n \n \n Rock Pigeon \n \n \n \n Common Hawk Cuckoo \n \n \n \n Ashy Prinia \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Summary of Walk \n \n \n \n Guided by Francis Anish\, fourteen participants gathered at the Pallikarnai Marshland in Chennai to witness a serene sunrise over one of South India’s most significant wetland ecosystems. This expansive marshland\, an important habitat within the city\, offers a striking contrast of open water\, reed beds and grassy patches that draw an impressive variety of resident and migratory birds. \n\nThe walk showcased a wide array of species\, including Little and Indian Cormorants\, Painted Storks\, Black-winged Stilts\, Blue-tailed Bee-eaters\, and both Common and White-throated Kingfishers. Spot-billed Pelicans were seen perching on electrical towers\, alongside Indian Spot-billed Ducks\, Grey and Purple Herons\, and Yellow-billed Babblers. The standout sightings of the morning were the elusive Greater Painted Snipe\, Wood Sandpipers and Tricoloured Munias\, delighting the group with their rarity. It was a beautifully immersive morning that highlighted the ecological richness thriving within Pallikarnai’s wetlands. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Number of Participants \n \n 0 URL:https://ataavi.org/event/bird-walk-at-zabarwan-range-srinagar-jk/ CATEGORIES:Birding Bharat ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ataavi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/kashmir-flycatcher.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260809T063000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260809T083000 DTSTAMP:20261024T124354 CREATED:20260731T123639Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T091828Z UID:15321-1786257000-1786264200@ataavi.org SUMMARY:Bird Walk at CV garden\, Kota\, Rajasthan DESCRIPTION:Bird Walk at Pallikarnai Marshland\, Chennai\, TN \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Chennai\n \n \n \n \n 29 August\, 2026\n \n \n \n \n Francis Anish\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai is one of the last big freshwater marshes left inside a major Indian metropolis\, hemmed in on all sides by Chennai’s IT corridor along Old Mahabalipuram Road. It is a shadow of its former self — the marsh once spread across some 6\,000 hectares but has been squeezed down to under 600 by decades of landfilling\, road-building\, and unplanned growth — yet what survives is still an internationally important wetland\, formally recognised as a Ramsar site in 2022. Its mix of open water\, reed beds\, and seasonally flooded grassland supports more than 100 recorded fauna species and around 275 plant species\, an extraordinary tally for a site now boxed in by apartment towers on almost every side. \n \n \n \n For birders\, Pallikaranai remains a genuine city-edge spectacle\, drawing waterbirds\, waders\, and raptors that would otherwise have nowhere left to go in urban Chennai. The marsh’s fortunes have been a battleground for years\, with waste dumping by the city corporation\, construction debris\, and pressure from nearby IT campuses steadily chipping away at what is left\, even as eco-restoration work — including a public eco-park opened in 2021 — tries to hold the line. Its Ramsar status has raised its profile considerably\, but conservationists are candid that the gap between protection on paper and protection on the ground remains wide.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird Guide: Francis AnishHe is an ornithologist and avid birdwatcher with over three years of research experience at the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)\, Coimbatore. His work includes research on the Critically Endangered White-bellied Heron\, reflecting his strong interest in bird conservation and ecology. Beyond research\, he regularly explores the field as a passionate birder\, deepening his understanding of bird behavior and habitats. He has also volunteered as a bird expert for the Tamil Nadu Forest Department's raptor survey in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve\, contributing to important wildlife monitoring and conservation efforts.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bird walk Location \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Common birds of Pallikaranai Marshland \n \n \n \n Pallikaranai’s open water and reed beds pack in a lively mix of waterbirds and city-edge regulars\, visible even on a short walk along the marsh boundary. Indian Cormorants and a Spot-billed Pelican work the open water together\, while a Black Drongo watches from a wire and Black-winged Stilts pick through the shallows on impossibly long legs. Egrets are well represented\, with both the Little Egret and Medium Egret stalking the margins alongside an Oriental Darter drying its wings on a snag. Rose-ringed Parakeets screech overhead as Spot-billed Ducks glide across the water\, and the marsh’s ibis population — Glossy Ibis and Black-headed Ibis both — probes the mud for food. A Black Kite circles above\, a Little Grebe dives and resurfaces near the reeds\, and Red-wattled Lapwings call sharply from the open ground. Closer to the marsh edge\, an Asian Green Bee-eater hawks from a low perch\, an Asian Koel calls from nearby trees\, and a Common Tailorbird and Ashy Prinia work the scrub while a Gray Heron stands motionless at the water’s edge — a snapshot of just how much life this shrinking marsh still holds. \n \n \n \n \n Indian Cormorant \n \n \n \n Spot-billed Pelican \n \n \n \n Black Drongo \n \n \n \n Black-winged Stilt \n \n \n \n Little Egret \n \n \n \n Oriental Darter \n \n \n \n Rose-ringed Parakeet \n \n \n \n Indian Spot-billed Duck \n \n \n \n Glossy Ibis \n \n \n \n Black-headed Ibis \n \n \n \n Black Kite \n \n \n \n Little Grebe \n \n \n \n Red-wattled Lapwing \n \n \n \n Asian Green Bee-eater \n \n \n \n Asian Koel \n \n \n \n Common Tailorbird \n \n \n \n Gray Heron \n \n \n \n Rock Pigeon \n \n \n \n Common Hawk Cuckoo \n \n \n \n Ashy Prinia \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Summary of Walk \n \n \n \n Guided by Francis Anish\, fourteen participants gathered at the Pallikarnai Marshland in Chennai to witness a serene sunrise over one of South India’s most significant wetland ecosystems. This expansive marshland\, an important habitat within the city\, offers a striking contrast of open water\, reed beds and grassy patches that draw an impressive variety of resident and migratory birds. \n\nThe walk showcased a wide array of species\, including Little and Indian Cormorants\, Painted Storks\, Black-winged Stilts\, Blue-tailed Bee-eaters\, and both Common and White-throated Kingfishers. Spot-billed Pelicans were seen perching on electrical towers\, alongside Indian Spot-billed Ducks\, Grey and Purple Herons\, and Yellow-billed Babblers. The standout sightings of the morning were the elusive Greater Painted Snipe\, Wood Sandpipers and Tricoloured Munias\, delighting the group with their rarity. It was a beautifully immersive morning that highlighted the ecological richness thriving within Pallikarnai’s wetlands. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Number of Participants \n \n 0 URL:https://ataavi.org/event/bird-walk-at-cv-garden-kota-rj/ CATEGORIES:Birding Bharat ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ataavi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/file_00000000cebc82119e4e647bd62cf092.webp END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR