Cormorants and darters have completed the second round of breeding at the Vedanthangal birds sanctuary, near Chengalpattu. Wildlife authorities say there is no recent record of second cycle of breeding carried out by these two bird species at the sanctuary. They attribute two factors, which made the avifauna go for the second cycle of breeding: availability of food and the rain in March. A senior officer says the migratory birds depend on lakes and large and medium tanks in and around the sanctuary for their food. One of the main feeding grounds is the Maduranthagam lake, where the water level rose after the recent rain, leading to increased fish population. Thanks to adequate rain in the last three years, the birds have extended their stay at the sanctuary. Normally, they fly back to their places of origin once summer sets in, which is usually in the last week of April or the first week of May. At present nearly 25,000 birds of different species have colonised the sanctuary, the officer says. They include painted storks, grey pelicans, open-billed storks, white ibis and a few species of ducks. At present, the water level at the Vedanthangal lake is good, which will suffice for the next couple of months. "We expect the water level to go down only in June-end. Till that time the birds will stay at the sanctuary,' says another officer. Karikili sanctuary At the Karikili birds sanctuary, about 10 km away from Vedanthangal, nearly 600 birds, mostly local migrants, such as egrets and herons are colonising. Normally, a large number of duck species can be sighted. But, this season, the duck species have migrated from the Karikili sanctuary, according to wildlife authorities. With the birds extending their stay at the sanctuary, the authorities are keeping it open for visitors.