V Krithiga | ENS Tirunelveli THIRUPPADAIMARUDUR has an ongoing love affair, one that keeps touching new heights. This tiny hamlet, about 30 km off Tirunelveli, receives thousands of migratory birds from Asian and East European countries and villagers go out of their way to make them feel welcome. There are about 300 families in the hamlet and all have planted saplings in front of their houses to provide shelter to the birds. Over 75 species of birds come calling each year and they have been visiting the village for breeding for the last 10 years. A majority of the birds arrive by December end and fly away by June or July . Some of the special bird varieties seen here are the painted stork, darter, black ibis, white ibis, purple heron, grey heron, cattle egret, spot billed pelican, spot billed duck and pheasant tailed jagna. Murugaiah, a farmer, says, "Every year the number of birds visiting our village increases. Saplings have been planted in front of all the houses to accommodate them.' Thiruppadaimarudur Panchayat president S Gomu says, "These birds are like family members. Fearing that crackers would disturb the birds, we have prohibited bursting of crackers in our village.' Bird watcher Narambu says, "If a baby bird falls from a tree, they inform me immediately. You don't get so much cooperation from any other village.' The villagers want to build upon their initiative. They have sent a proposal to the district administration for construction of an artificial tank. A villager said, "Birds have to go to a nearby tank to catch fish. A tank in the village would help.' Forest Ranger, Social Forestry, P Loganadhan said, "For the last eight years, we have planted trees in over 12 hectares (over 8,000 trees). Recently, the villagers asked us for saplings and we obliged.'