Thattekad Bird Sanctuary & Bhoothathankettu dam, Kerala

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Thattekad is the first bird sanctuary in Kerala, established in 1983, has 728 species of plants, 284 species of birds, 222 species of butterflies, 52 species of fishes, 39 species of mammals, 36 species of reptiles and 17 species of amphibians are recorded from the sanctuary.

The Indian legendary ornithologist Dr. Salim Ali during his survey in 1933 (2nd to 13th Feb) described it as one of the richest place of bird diversity. The book 'Birds of Kerala' is the result of this survey. Thus the name, Dr. Salim Ali bird sanctuary. Tiger, leopard, elephant, sloth bear, wild dog, sambar deer etc are also found in the sanctuary. Entry fee Rs 10, Still Camera Rs 25. It is located on the banks of river Periyar, 13 km from Kothamangalam/48 km from Aluva railway station.

Edamalayar dam is 14 km from Bhoothathankettu dam through dense forested road. Malayattor is 30 km away from the dam via thick forested road parallel to the Periyar river (DFO permission required).



Malabar Grey Hornbill



Night heron

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Common birds : Indian roller, common snipe, jungle nightjar, grey drongo, Malabar trogon, baya, sparrow, robin.

Ceylon Frogmouth



Crow pheasant



Indian Cuckoo



Oriental Darter

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Indian Pitta



Yellow browed bulbul



Little black cormorant



Jungle babbler

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Grey jungle fowl



Woodpecker



Pied wagtail



Common hill myna

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Sunbirds



Rare birds : Crimson - throated barbet, bee-eater, rose-billed rollers, shrike, fairy bluebird, grey-headed fishing eagle, black winged kite, Malayan night herons, grey heron, Malabar shama, and rusty - tailed flycatchers.