Birding and Boating in Ousteri Lake
Ousteri Lake is located 8kms from Pondicherry City and it is famous for boating and boating. Ousteri lake shared by both Tamilnadu and Pondicherry government, where 410 hectares were lie in Tamilnadu and 390 hectares lie in Puducherry.
This lake is identified as a wetland of national importance under the National Wetland Conservation Programme of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). It is home to over 189 species of birds now (2020). The Asian Wetland Bureau has also declared it one of the 93 significant wetlands in Asia.
Lake will become active during the migratory season, which starts from mid-October and lasts till March. The migratory season is the best time for you to visit and most of the birds visit during this time. Boating in ousteri lake is the main attraction here.
Artificial Islands for migratory birds
Migratory birds visiting Ousteri Lake don’t do nesting here, since there are no islands or safe trees available for them to do breeding or nesting. Most of the migratory birds visiting Ousteri Lake are breeding in vedanthangal and koonthakulam in Tamilnadu. I and my friends sought permission from the Pondicherry government and created 7 artificial islands and 8 mounds for the migratory birds to roost and breed safely here in 2019.
The Sanctuary entrance has been renovated recently and is open for the public now (2020). Tourists can enjoy watching the birds fly from the shores or by boating, which is provided by the tourist department. Boating in ousteri lake runs when the water level is conducive for boating, so the best time to go for boating will be after monsoon from December till April or May depends on the success of the previous monsoon rains.
Birding at Ousteri Lake
Take binoculars for bird watching. If the water level is too high then the chances of bird sightings will be below then you can enjoy only the boating experience. There is a small recreational area, which has lawns and towers for bird watching. There are shops, which are coming up inside the recreational area after the renovation, expecting the public not to throw the waste onto the lake. Just opposite the lake, there is a Government-run canteen, which provides machine tea and snacks.
Best Season: December to April, where the migratory birds will be seen during these periods and the water level will be high for boats to run.
Time: 9.30 Am to 4.30 Pm
Entrance: Free
Boating Charges: Rs. 180/person for a long trip and 100/person for a short trip
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