Poachers place stuffed dead birds in the water body to attract the flock and use double barrel guns shoot the birds, says K. Gnanaskandan, member of the Madras Naturalists' Society, who visited the spot last week.

Painted storks, open-billed storks, large egrets, little egrets, teals and ducks are being poached, he said. In a day about 20 birds are shot and sold at Rs.200 a bird.

Incentive to stay

The water level in the lake is still good owing to which migratory birds continue to stay there. Sometimes they stay till May when the water level goes down.

During weekends more number of birds are killed as there is a demand, say naturalists. Poaching has been on for the last couple of months. More than 600 birds, including migratory ones, are found in the lake.

The poachers also kill local migrants such as large and little egrets and ducks.

Poaching of birds was reported from the Pallikaranai marsh sometime ago. With increased vigil by Wildlife authorities poachers are now looking at the alternative sites.

Last week, dead pelicans were recovered by Wildlife officials from Keelkattalai lake on the Thorappakkam – Pallavaram radial road. The authorities were unable to nab the poachers who had abandoned the birds.

Naturalists say patrolling and regular monitoring around water bodies will help reduce poaching.