Now Reading: Lone Demoiselle Crane recorded in Chennai for the first time
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Lone Demoiselle Crane recorded in Chennai for the first time
The Story in Brief
A lone Demoiselle Crane was documented at the Nemmeli salt pans near Chennai on February 28, 2026, in the city’s first recorded sighting of the species. Chennai birdwatchers Naman Bora and Amoggh Chatty photographed the vagrant bird while it fed among reeds and flew nearby. The record is listed on eBird and was confirmed by senior reviewer Gnanaskandan Kesavabharathi.
The sub-adult crane remained within about 100 metres of its feeding spot until at least March 3, The Hindu reports. Demoiselle Cranes winter mainly in North India after travelling from Eurosiberia. Tamil Nadu had two earlier records, both at Vijaynarayanam Tank in Tirunelveli, in 2006 and 2007. Ornithologist V. Shantaram said drought, other conditions or simple wandering could explain the southern visit.
The Indian Opinion
Some wildlife coverage turns an unusual sighting into proof of a new migration route, while others dismiss it as a stray bird with no wider meaning. Neither conclusion fits the evidence. One Chennai record, even with repeated observations, cannot establish a trend. The useful next step is systematic winter monitoring at wetlands and salt pans. If similar records recur across several sites and years, the bird’s southern movement will be more than an anecdote.
Source: thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
