The Tamil University Campus in Thanjavur
Thanjavur: The sprawling campus of Tamil University, spread in more than 800 acres, in Thanjavur was flocked not only by the young students but also by migratory birds.
The university founded by then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M G Ramachandran in the year 1981 as a high – level research centre in Tamil language, literature and cultured, later blossomed into a teaching university. M G R was gracious enough to allot around 1,000 acres of land in the outskirts of the ancient town and the erstwhile Chola capital of Thanjavur. The visionary first Vice-Chancellor of the University arranged to plant many tree sapling among the bushes that was predominant in the vast areas of the university.
"He arranged to plant many tree saplings including fruit bearing trees like jamun ("naaval" in Tamil), Gooseberry ( "Nelli"), neem ("vembu"), which started attracting birds", says C Sivasubramanian, the Assistant Professor of Department of Environmental and Herbal Science who surveyed the birds and wildlife in the Tamil University campus. As many as 145 species of birds were sighted in the University campus, says Sivasubramanian. Of them some rare, interesting and migratory birds are Large Bee-eater ("Periya Pachchai Panjuruttan" in Tamil), Indian Pitta ("Thottak Kallan"), Forest Wagtail (Kodikkal Vaalatti), Small minivet (Chinna Meen Chittu), Chloropsis ("Pachchai Chittu'), Orange headed thrush ("Senthalai Poonkuruvi"), Grey headed starling ("Sambal Thalai Naaganavai"), Rosy starling ("Cholakuruvi"), Golden Oriole ("Maambalakuruvi"), Paradise fly catcher ("Arasavaal Eepidippan"), Indian plaintive cuckoo. Apart from these migratory birds Barn Owl, Grey Francolin, common quail are also found in the university campus.
Apart from birds, Star tortoise, ant eater, chameleon, Varanus ("Udumbu"), Fox are also seen in the forested area of the university.
There is a separate enclosure of the spotted deer in the university campus. Apart from these peacocks, the bonnet macaques (common
The university founded by then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M G Ramachandran in the year 1981 as a high – level research centre in Tamil language, literature and cultured, later blossomed into a teaching university. M G R was gracious enough to allot around 1,000 acres of land in the outskirts of the ancient town and the erstwhile Chola capital of Thanjavur. The visionary first Vice-Chancellor of the University arranged to plant many tree sapling among the bushes that was predominant in the vast areas of the university.
"He arranged to plant many tree saplings including fruit bearing trees like jamun ("naaval" in Tamil), Gooseberry ( "Nelli"), neem ("vembu"), which started attracting birds", says C Sivasubramanian, the Assistant Professor of Department of Environmental and Herbal Science who surveyed the birds and wildlife in the Tamil University campus. As many as 145 species of birds were sighted in the University campus, says Sivasubramanian. Of them some rare, interesting and migratory birds are Large Bee-eater ("Periya Pachchai Panjuruttan" in Tamil), Indian Pitta ("Thottak Kallan"), Forest Wagtail (Kodikkal Vaalatti), Small minivet (Chinna Meen Chittu), Chloropsis ("Pachchai Chittu'), Orange headed thrush ("Senthalai Poonkuruvi"), Grey headed starling ("Sambal Thalai Naaganavai"), Rosy starling ("Cholakuruvi"), Golden Oriole ("Maambalakuruvi"), Paradise fly catcher ("Arasavaal Eepidippan"), Indian plaintive cuckoo. Apart from these migratory birds Barn Owl, Grey Francolin, common quail are also found in the university campus.
Apart from birds, Star tortoise, ant eater, chameleon, Varanus ("Udumbu"), Fox are also seen in the forested area of the university.
There is a separate enclosure of the spotted deer in the university campus. Apart from these peacocks, the bonnet macaques (common