Established in 1976, the Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary lies in Nelapattu village of Nellore District. It is about 20 km north of Pulicat Bird Sanctuary.
Nelapattu bird sanctuary is one of the largest Pelicanary in South East Asia with more than 1500 Pelicans and other birds visiting every year. The big fresh water tank of Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary, the presence of good number of “Barringtonia Acutangula” trees which can tolerate inundation for long periods in the tank bed and fore shore areas make this sanctuary a haven for a broad spectrum of bird species for both breeding and roosting. It is a breeding ground for some of the rare and endangered species like Grey Pelicans, Open-billed Storks, Little Cormorants, White Ibis, Night Herons, etc. A wide variety of birds, like Egrets, Tern, Ducks, Waders etc., also rest here.The reserve forest area has mammals like jackals, slender loris and spotted deer and reptiles like snakes, tortoises and monitor lizards.
There is an Environmental Education Centre in the Sanctuary with a Museum, Library and Auditorium with Audio Visual Equipment for screening of slides, films etc, on wild life. Watch towers are also available to watch the birds at the Sanctuary.
Festival:
An annual Flamingo festival is held every year in February. Seminar on ecology, exhibitions, cultural programmes & conducted tours for bird watching are organised during the festival
Best Time to Visit : October to March.
Access: By Air: Chennai is the nearest airport to Nelapattu.
By Rail: The nearest railway station is at Sullurpeta.
By Road: Nelapattu is 90-km by road from Chennai highway. It is well connected by buses.
Accommodation and facilities:
In Doravari satram there is an AP tourism Hotel and in Sullurpeta you will find lot good lodges and hotels for stay.
Check The List Of Birds Recorded in Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary:
BREEDING MIGRANTS:
- Grey Or Spot Billed Pelican
- Open Billed Stork
- White Ibis
- Little Cormorant
- Spoon Bill
- Indian Shag
- Dan Chick
ROOSTING MIGRANTS:
- Grey Heron
- Night Heron
- Large Cormorent
- Little Egret
- Large Egret
- Cattle Egret
- Pond Heron
- Black Ibis
- Common Teal
- Blue Winged Teal
- Shoveller
- Pintail
- Gad Wall
- Red Creasted Pochard
- Coot
- Spot Bill
- Koel
- White Breasted Water Hen
- Bkack Winged Stilt
- Comb Duck
- Common Hawk Kuckoo
Resident Birds
- Grey Petridge
- Red Wattled Lapwing
- Yellow Wattled Lapwing
- Commen Green Pigeon
- Ring Dove
- Spotted Dove
- Rose Ringed Rarakeet
- Crown Pheasant
- Blue Jay
- Small Green Bee Eater
- Pied King Fisher
- White Breasted King Fisher
- Small Blue King Fisher
- Golden Backed Wood Pecker
- Yellow Wagtail
- Indian Small Sky Lark
- Indian Myna
- Jungle Crow
- House Crow
- Indian Pipit
- Common Babbler
- Iora
- Green Bul Bul
- Redwented Bul Bul
- White Wag Tail
- Large Wag Tail
- Weaver Bird
- House Sparrow
- Grey Quil
- Common Sand Grouse
- White Throated Munia
- Spotted Munia
BIRDS PREY SEEN
- White Backed Vulture
- White Scavenger Vulture
- Black Winged Kite
- Common Paria Kite
- Brahmini Kite
- Marsh Harrier
BIRDS RARELY SEEN
- Flamingo
- Darter
- Indian Reef Heron
- Brown Headed Gull
- Black Headed Gull
- Painted Stork
- Purple Rumped Sun Bird