Vaduvoor Bird Sanctuary

Vaduvoor Bird Sanctuary covers 128.10 hectares of Vaduvoor lake in Thiruvarur district, on State Highway 63, some 14 km from Mannargudi and 25 km from Thanjavur. It was set up in 1999 and became a protected Ramsar site in 2022. The lake is an irrigation tank that holds water from November to April, and in that season it draws migratory birds, with November and December the busiest months.

More than 40 kinds of water birds come here, among them painted and openbill storks, white ibises, grey pelicans, spoonbills, cormorants, darters, herons, pintails, teals, coots and pheasant-tailed jacanas. Local farmers welcome them, since bird droppings enrich the irrigation water, and hunting and poaching are banned and watched for by officers. Two watch towers give views over the water, and there are basic facilities for an overnight stay. Buses run from Thanjavur and Mannargudi.