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You can watch a wide variety of beautiful exotic birds at the bird's sanctuaries of Kerala. Birds sanctuaries of Kerala have excellent moist deciduous teak forests and marshes dominated by bamboo and other grasses, most favourable environ for aerial population in India . These forests are also said to be amongst the most extensively forested belts in the Indian Peninsula housing some of the most desired homes of migratory birds in Kerala. On the travel vacations to Kerala the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary, and Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary offers some of the excellent photography options.

Kerala Birds Sanctuaries

The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary (also commonly known as the Thattekad Sanctuary) is located in the Kothamangalam Taluk of Ernakulam district on the northern bank of the Periyar River. The sanctuary was notified in 1983 based on a recommendation made by Dr. Salim Ali many years previously. Ali described Thattekad in the 1930's as the richest bird habitat in peninsular India, comparable only with the eastern Himalayas. The reserve boasts of a variety of migratory and resident bird species, including the rare Ceylon frogmouth and the rose-billed roller.

The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary lies 12km from Kottayam bordering the Vembanad Lake, and spread over 14 acres of land. This famous sanctuary is a haunt for migratory birds like darters, egrets, herons, teals, waterfowls, cuckoos and wild ducks amongst others. One can even get a glimpse of the Siberian storks that migrate to this place almost every year.

The Kumarakom bird sanctuary, an ornithologist's paradise, is a favourite haunt of migratory birds like the siberian stork, egret, darter, heron and teal. Other common varieties like the woodpecker, skylark, crane, water hen and parrots can also be spotted here. A cruise along the Vembabad Lake is the best way to experience the sanctuary. Pathiramanal, an enchanting island on the lake, can be accessed by boat from here.

People seeking the thrill of exploring the natural beauty and its habitants in India will get the enchanting pleasure and enthusiasm from the bird's sanctuaries of Kerala.

While tour through the bird's sanctuaries of Kerala you come across rare species of birds. Birds are everywhere-a paradise of birds. The bird's are gifted by the mother nature with various colours the bird species are making the bird sanctuary a multi-hued heaven, beside, the shrill voices of the birds are adding more liveliness to the park's atmosphere.

The acrobatic skills of birds, eye catching migratory birds and after all the euphony of birds every morning and evening in the green patch of Kerala is joyful.

The Birds of Kumarakom Sanctuary

The sanctuary is a home to most of the avian species. Some of these permanently live and dwell here while there are other species of birds that migrate here from far off continents. Migratory birds which visit the sanctuary every year are Siberian Cranes, Indian Peafowl, Egrets, Darters, Herons, Parrots, Larks, Flycatchers, Wood Beetles and Teals. Resident bird species include Waterfowls, Cuckoos, Owls, Egrets, Herons and the water duck.

The Birds of Thattekkad Sanctuary

Rare birds like the Crimson-Throated Barbet, Bee-eater, Sunbird, Shrike, Black winged Kite, Grey Heron and the Night Heron are also commonly sighted. Indian roller, cuckoo, common snipe, crow pheasant, jungle nightjar, kite, grey drongo, Malabar trogon, woodpecker, large pied wagtail, baya sparrow, grey jungle fowl, Indian hill myna, robin bird, jungle babbler and darter are some of the common birds found here. There are a few rare birds as well which include: sunbird, shrike, fairy blue-bird, grey-headed fishing eagle, blackwinged kite etc.