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Site description (2004 baseline):

The Vaduvoor Lake Bird Sanctuary is situated in the Tiruvarur district of Tamil Nadu. It is c. 24 km from Thanjavur and 15 km from Mannargudi. The Lake has a depth of c. 2.5 m, and receives water mainly from the northeast monsoon and the Vennaru river. The Lake irrigates about 1,356 acres of agricultural land. Nayvasal and Vaduvoor villages are situated around the Sanctuary. The road to Mannargudi borders one side of the Lake. The other sides are protected by huge bunds. Migratory birds start to arrive by October and stay till February to March. This freshwater lake is rich in aquatic flora, with submerged, floating and emergent vegetation. Ipomoea carnea is seen in many parts of the Lake. There are thickets of Prosopis chilensis. The Forest Department has planted Acacia nilotica in the lake environs.

AVIFAUNA: The Sanctuary is well known for several species, notably the Spotbilled Pelican Pelecanus philippensis. Several thousand migratory birds congregate in Vaduvoor during the winter. Detailed studies on the avifauna of this IBA are required. Presently, it can be considered as Data Deficient.

OTHER KEY FAUNA: Few published records are available on the fish, reptile and amphibian fauna of this lake. Some of fish recorded are Ambassis urotaenia, Channa punctatus, Ophiocephalus sp. and Mystus tenegra.

MAIN THREATS: Indiscriminate fishing; Over-grazing; Siltation; Encroachment; Invasion by exotic species; Pollution.

The bund is very old and urgently needs repair to avoid a breach during heavy rainfall. Like most other lakes of Tamil Nadu, Vaduvoor is silting up. It needs dredging to increase the depth to store more water. The soil containing bird guano is rich in minerals, and is collected by the villagers to use in their crop fields, which is why the villagers provide protection to the birds. Removal of guano-rich soil should be regulated with the cooperation of the villagers, so that the birds are least disturbed. There is some poaching of birds, mainly by outsiders. This could be stopped by the villagers because they are the beneficiaries of bird guano. A conservation awareness programme and patrolling by the Forest Department could take care of the poaching problem. There is a need to avoid over-fishing. Larger mesh size nets should be used, and there should be no fishing during the breeding season of the fish. Ipomoea carnea is spreading fast. Although it provides habitats to some birds and fish, its spread should be regulated. And finally, there is the larger issue of the use of harmful pesticides in the agricultural fields, which enter the lake with the run-off from the fields. Regular monitoring of the water quality, through the local college/university could be taken up. Vaduvoor Bird Sanctuary is a good site for research on freshwater ecosystems, fish, birds, impact of pesticides, socio-economic benefits of birds conservation and regulated use of guano-rich soil.

Key contributor: V. Kannan.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Vaduvoor Lake Bird Sanctuary (India). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/vaduvoor-lake-bird-sanctuary-iba-india on 27/12/2024.