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Nanmangalam Reserve Forest
Nanmangalam Reserve Forest is a protected forest located in Chengalpattu district, about 24 km from the city centre. It is located at Medavakkam on Velachery High Road between Velachery and Tambaram. The reserve forest has an area of 320 hectares. However, the total area of the forest is 2,400 hectares. The forest The forest is popular among bird watchers and is home to about 85 species of birds. Red-wattled lapwing, Hoopoe, crested honey buzzard, grey partridge, coucal, Indian eagle-owl, white-breasted kingfisher, pied kingfisher, southern bush lark and red-whiskered bulbul are commonly seen in the area. The 320-hectare Nanmangalam Reserved Forest, located about 10 km from Velachery, is a scrubland around an abandoned granite quarry and is home to some of the rare territorial orchids, according to a recent study. The state forest department has entrusted the work of data collection in this small forest area to Care Earth, a bio-diversity research organisation ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chengalpattu District
Chengalpattu District is one of the 38 districts of Tamil Nadu, in India. The district headquarters is located at Chengalpattu. Chengalpattu district came into existence on 29 November 2019 when it was carved out of Kanchipuram district after the announcement about the bifurcation of districts on 18 July 2019. Demographics Tamil language is the primary language spoken in the district. Politics Administration Chengalpattu District has 3 Revenue Divisions * Tambaram Revenue Division: Pallavaram taluk, Tambaram taluk and Vandalur taluk. * Chengalpattu Revenue Division: Chengalpattu taluk, Thiruporur taluk and Tirukalukundram taluk. * Madurantakam Revenue Division: Madurantakam taluk and Cheyyur taluk. Pallavaram, Tambaram and parts of Vandalur taluks lie in the Chennai Metropolitan Area. District Panchayat Chengalpattu district has 16 district panchayat wards details of which are in Municipal Corporation Chengalpattu district has 1 Municipal Corporation Tam ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Grey Partridge
The grey partridge (''Perdix perdix''), also known as the gray-legged partridge, English partridge, Hungarian partridge, or hun, is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds. The scientific name is the Latin for "partridge", and is itself derived from Ancient Greek ''perdix''. Description The grey partridge is a rotund bird, brown-backed, with grey flanks and chest. The belly is white, usually marked with a large chestnut-brown horse-shoe mark in males, and also in many females. Hens lay up to twenty eggs in a ground nest. The nest is usually in the margin of a cereal field, most commonly winter wheat. Measurements: * Length: * Weight: * Wingspan: The only major and constant difference between the sexes is the so-called cross of Lorraine on the tertiary coverts of females—these being marked with two transverse bars, as opposed to the one in males. These are present after around 16 weeks of age when the birds have moult ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Protected Areas Of Tamil Nadu
The Protected areas of Tamil Nadu State in South India cover an area of , constituting 2.54% of the geographic area and 15% of the recorded forest area. It ranks 14th among all the States and Union Territories of India in terms of total protected area. Creation and administration of Protected areas in South India originated with the Maharajas of the Southern Princely States' private hunting grounds. The Mudumalai National Park, established in 1940, was the first modern Wildlife Sanctuary in South India. Most protected areas throughout its 30 Districts are under the stewardship of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (India) and the Tamil Nadu Forest Department. Biosphere reserves The three Biosphere Reserves in Tamil Nadu are: *Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve: ; established in 1989. *Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve: , of which 2537.6 km² is in Tamil Nadu. Established in 1986. *Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve: ; established in 2001. National parks Tamil Nadu has ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Geography Of Chennai
Chennai is located at on the southeast coast of India and in the northeast corner of Tamil Nadu. It is located on a flat coastal plain known as the Eastern Coastal Plains. The city has an average elevation of , its highest point being . Chennai is 2,184 kilometres (1,357 mi) south of Delhi, 1,337 kilometres (831 mi) southeast of Mumbai, and 1,679 kilometers (1,043 mi) southwest of Kolkata by road. Geology The geology of Chennai comprises mostly clay, shale and sandstone. The city is classified into three regions based on geology, sandy areas, clayey areas and hard-rock areas. Sandy areas are found along the river banks and the coasts. Clayey regions cover most of the city. Hard rock areas are Guindy, Velachery, Adambakkam and a part of Saidapet. In sandy areas such as Tiruvanmiyur, Adyar, Kottivakkam, Santhome, George Town, Tondiarpet and the rest of coastal Chennai, rainwater run-off percolates very quickly. In clayey and hard rock areas, rainwater percolates slowly, but it ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vandalur Reserve Forest
Vandalur Reserve Forest is a protected area located in the suburb of Vandalur in the southwestern part of Chennai, about 30 km from the city centre. It is bordered by the Grand Southern Trunk (GST) Road in the west and Suddhanandha Bharathi Street on the northern and the eastern sides, and is intersected by the Vandalur–Kelambakkam Road on the southern side. The reserve forest contains Arignar Anna Zoological Park, the largest zoological garden in the Indian Subcontinent. History In 1976, a portion of the reserve forest covering was demarcated by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department as the new location for the Madras Zoo, initially located in Park Town. Work started in 1979 at an initial cost of 75 million, and the zoo was opened to public on 24 July 1985 as the Arignar Anna Zoological Park. In 2001, another of land from the reserve forest, located adjacent to the zoo, was augmented with the zoo to build a rescue and rehabilitation center for confiscated and abandoned w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Birding In Chennai
Housing more than 200 resident and wintering bird species, Chennai (formerly known as Madras) has long been a haven for bird watchers. It is the one of the few urban areas in India with diverse range of birds including greater flamingo, black baza, osprey, Indian eagle-owl, Coppersmith barbet, Spot billed pelican and pied avocet can be seen. The following are some known birding hotspots in and around Chennai. Guindy National Park Guindy National Park (GNP) is one of India's smallest national parks covering an area of 2.7 km2. It is situated in the midst of the city, and is often called 'the lungs of Chennai'. The habitat consists of dry evergreen scrub, thorn forest, open grassland and small water bodies. The star attractions of the Guindy National Park are the blackbuck antelope and the Indian star tortoise. Spotted deer, golden jackal, civet cat, pangolins and various species of snakes and butterflies can also be seen in the national park. Highlight: Guindy is th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Megalith
A megalith is a large stone that has been used to construct a prehistoric structure or monument, either alone or together with other stones. There are over 35,000 in Europe alone, located widely from Sweden to the Mediterranean sea. The word was first used in 1849 by the British antiquarian Algernon Herbert in reference to Stonehenge and derives from the Ancient Greek words "mega" for great and " lithos" for stone. Most extant megaliths were erected between the Neolithic period (although earlier Mesolithic examples are known) through the Chalcolithic period and into the Bronze Age. At that time, the beliefs that developed were dynamism and animism, because Indonesia experienced the megalithic age or the great stone age in 2100 to 4000 BC. So that humans ancient tribe worship certain objects that are considered to have supernatural powers. Some relics of the megalithic era are menhirs (stone monuments) and dolmens (stone tables). Types and definitions While "megalith" ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Red-whiskered Bulbul
The red-whiskered bulbul (''Pycnonotus jocosus''), or crested bulbul, is a passerine bird native to Asia. It is a member of the bulbul family. It is a resident frugivore found mainly in tropical Asia. It has been introduced in many tropical areas of the world where populations have established themselves. It has a loud three or four note call, feeds on fruits and small insects and perches conspicuously on trees. It is common in hill forests and urban gardens. Taxonomy The red-whiskered bulbul was formally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his ''Systema Naturae'' under the binomial name ''Lanius jocosus''. The specific epithet is from Latin ''ioculus'' meaning "merry" (from ''iocus'' meaning "joke"). Linnaeus based his description on the ''Sitta Chinensis'' that had been described in 1757 by the Swedish naturalist Pehr Osbeck. Linnaeus specified the location as "China" but this was restricted to Hong Kong and Kwangtung (now Guangd ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jerdon's Bush Lark
Jerdon's bush lark (''Mirafra affinis'') or Jerdon's lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found in south Asia. This was formerly considered as a subspecies of '' Mirafra assamica'' and termed as the Madras bushlark. Two other species in the complex include '' Mirafra marionae'' and '' Mirafra microptera''. Jerdon's bush lark is typically very pale on the underside Taxonomy and systematics The common name commemorates the surgeon-naturalist Thomas C. Jerdon. Formerly, Jerdon's bush lark was considered to be a subspecies of the Bengal bush lark (as ''M. assamica affinis'') until studies of differences in call and distribution led to it being treated as a separate species. However, not all authorities recognize this species split. Description Jerdon's bush lark has arrowhead-like spots pointing upwards on the breast. It is very similar to the Indian bush lark (''M. erythroptera'') but has buffy lores, less white behind ear coverts, darker center to wing coverts and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pied Kingfisher
The pied kingfisher (''Ceryle rudis'') is a species of water kingfisher widely distributed across Africa and Asia. Originally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758, it has five recognised subspecies. Its black and white plumage and crest, as well as its habit of hovering over clear lakes and rivers before diving for fish, make it distinctive. Males have a double band across the breast, while females have a single gorget that is often broken in the middle. They are usually found in pairs or small family groups. When perched, they often bob their head and flick up their tail. Taxonomy and evolution The pied kingfisher was one of the many bird species originally described by Linnaeus in the landmark 1758 10th edition of his ''Systema Naturae'', who noted that it lived in Persia and Egypt. He named it ''Alcedo rudis''. The German naturalist Friedrich Boie erected the genus ''Ceryle'' in 1828. The name is from classical Greek ''kērulos'', an unidentified and probably mythical bird men ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
White-breasted Kingfisher
The white-throated kingfisher (''Halcyon smyrnensis'') also known as the white-breasted kingfisher is a tree kingfisher, widely distributed in Asia from the Sinai east through the Indian subcontinent to China and Indonesia. This kingfisher is a resident over much of its range, although some populations may make short distance movements. It can often be found well away from water where it feeds on a wide range of prey that includes small reptiles, amphibians, crabs, small rodents and even birds. During the breeding season they call loudly in the mornings from prominent perches including the tops of buildings in urban areas or on wires. Taxonomy The white-throated kingfisher is one of the many birds that were first formally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his '' Systema Naturae''. He coined the binomial name ''Alcedo smyrnensis''. Linnaeus cited Eleazar Albin's ''Natural History of Birds'' published in 1738 that included a de ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Indian Eagle-owl
The Indian eagle-owl (''Bubo bengalensis''), also called the rock eagle-owl or Bengal eagle-owl, is a large horned owl species native to hilly and rocky scrub forests in the Indian Subcontinent. It is splashed with brown and grey, and has a white throat patch with black small stripes. It was earlier treated as a subspecies of the Eurasian eagle-owl. It is usually seen in pairs. It has a deep resonant booming call that may be heard at dawn and dusk. Taxonomy ''Otus bengalensis'' was the scientific name used by James Franklin in 1831 for an eagle-owl collected in northern India. Description This species is often considered a subspecies of the Eurasian eagle-owl ''Bubo bubo'' and is very similar in appearance. The facial disk is unmarked and has a black border, a feature that is much weaker in the Eurasian form. The base of the primaries is unbanded and rufous. The tail bands have the tawny bands wider than the black ones. A large pale scapular patch is visible on the folded wing ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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