Winged visitors from afar return to Chennai’s wetlands as migratory season begins

The first signs of winter are arriving in Chennai, albeit not in the form of cooler mornings, but on wings. Birdwatchers across the city have begun spotting migratory species, signalling the start of another season for the movement of birds travelling thousands of kilometres to southern India.

At Pallikaranai marshland, K.V.R.K. Thirunaranan of The Nature Trust, which has been documenting birds in the marsh for over a decade, had a surprise this year with the early arrival of a grey-headed lapwing, a long-distance migrant from East Asia.

Mr. Thirunaranan said its arrival has usually been around the first week of October. But this year, it arrived on September 20, almost two weeks earlier than usual. Weather conditions, rainfall, food availability, and conditions along the migration route could have played a role, though the exact reason remains unclear, he added.