Rare Long-Toed Stints Spotted at Pallikaranai Marshland in Chennai

Birdwatchers in Chennai have spotted a small number of long-toed stints at the Pallikaranai Marshland, marking the return of one of the avian world's most resilient long-distance travellers. The tiny wader, recognized for undertaking one of the longest migratory journeys in the bird world, arrived back at the wetland by mid-July after having departed Pallikaranai at the end of May.

The bird species breeds in Siberia and covers thousands of kilometres across migratory routes to reach the wetland in Chennai. According to Chennai District Forest Officer V A Saravanan, the long-toed stint ranks among the rarest waders that depend on the Asian Flyway to reach the Pallikaranai Marshland, sharing the flyway route with other species including the ruff, the common sandpiper, and the wood sandpiper.

Local birders monitoring the wetland observed that all four of these species have displayed a notable pattern of early arrival and late departure during the 2026-27 migratory season. Observers and birdwatchers described this seasonal trend as a clear reflection of the richness of the marshland, noting that the consistent pattern serves as a strong indicator of the ecological health of the wetland habitat.

Although the marsh is currently filled with water, the visiting migratory waders continue to thrive in the area by utilizing the wetland's shallow feeding grounds and specialized roosting habitats. Birders tracking the birds stated that these conditions reinforce the continued importance of Pallikaranai as a key habitat along the broader Central Asian Flyway.

Among the four wader species observed, birders highlighted that the long-toed stint faces the greatest habitat risk. The species is particularly vulnerable because it relies strictly on very shallow freshwater marshes with low water levels and soft mud to feed and roost, making the preservation of these precise conditions critical for its survival.