In photos: Migratory birds turn Pulicat Lake into bird enthusiasts' paradise

Every year, hundreds of bird enthusiasts and visitors throng to the Pulicat Lake surroundings in Nellore district.

Various migratory birds including flamingos visit this part of Andhra Pradesh every year for breeding, and are a treat for the eyes of bird watchers.

This year too, the three-day annual Flamingo Festival 2018 at Pulicat lake and Nellapattu in Sullurpet mandal was held from Jan 08 to Jan 10 amid much fanfare.

While bird watching is the main attraction, several other events such as cultural programmes and performances by artists were also held.

The festival is being organised for the past 12 years. This season an estimated 12,000 birds from 80 different species arrived at the region to breed.

The birds fly to Pulicat from all across the country as well as regions as far as Siberia and leave with their young ones after the breeding season.

Public authorities worked hard to make the festival a success this year. Rs 3 crore were spent on developing the roads leading to the venue, and increase the number of bird viewing towers and food stalls.

A similar amount was used to conduct various exhibitions and programmes in the Government Junior College in Sullurupeta town which was the main venue.

The Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary is an important breeding site for many avian species such as the spot-billed pelicans, white ibis, open bill stork, night heron, and little cormorant.

Photographs by R Senthil Kumar, PTI.