Status of colonial waterbirds of Vaduvoor Lake, Tamil Nadu, India

Wetlands have been threatened by urban, industrial, and agricultural expansions, which have jeopardized the integrity of this unique ecosystem. As a result, avifauna that exploits the wetlands has severely been affected. The Vaduvoor Lake in Tamil Nadu, India is one such wetland that supports large number of migratory and resident birds. Indian Bird Conservation Network has recently identified this lake as one of the Important Bird Areas (IBA) of India, despite which no attempt has been made so far to study this wetland or the avifaunal species dependent on it. The present study focus comprehensively the status of colonial waterbirds utilizing the lake for various ecological purposes.