Nature has staged a stunning comeback in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi, where profuse rains have flooded salt production fields, inviting a surge of birds. Officials from forest and environment wings call it a precious ecological windfall, captivating communities and experts.
Suburban salt pans, now waterlogged, function as makeshift wetlands teeming with aquatic bounty. ‘Large bird assemblies like this are exceptional,’ observed a department veteran. The influx of rainwater has boosted prey populations—think tiny fish, larvae, and insects—prompting birds to flock relentlessly.
Standouts include swirling masses of Rosy Starlings, iconic migrants from Asia and Europe. They winter across South and central India, their presence affirming resource abundance. As opportunistic eaters, they excel in buggy, open habitats, with group dynamics slashing migration hazards.
Monitoring suggests sustained moisture could make this a key stopover. This phenomenon reveals ecosystems’ knack for adaptation, transforming utilitarian lands into vital refuges amid erratic weather. It calls for policies safeguarding such transient wonders in human-dominated zones.