One of the rare bird species to be spotted in south India, the Grey-headed Lapwing (Vanellus cinereus) has arrived in Chennai. Since 2003 these birds have been visiting the Pallikarani Marshlands and this year, they arrived in great numbers. Over 220 Grey-headed Lapwings have gathered along the Pallikaranai marshland, feeding and flying around in flocks and showing their flying skills. What surprised me is the huge numbers in which the Grey-headed Lapwings have gathered! They usually move around in flocks of around 50, but here I witnessed over 150 Grey-headed Lapwings flying as a flock.
This endangered bird species which has been visiting the Pallikaranai marshland in the past couple of years is greeted each year by the increasing sight of dump. I still remember writing about the dumping of waste in this land last year in this month, but still no drastic changes can be seen to the limit of dumping which is happening here. The first two days the birds were flying and moving close to the dump yard, calling out and chasing dogs. But in the last two days the birds have moved over to the opposite side of the dumping yard. Is it because of too much disturbance and activity in dumping yard?
The question to be asked is, will these visitors have a home when they visit again next year? Or will they even return again?
