Location: 10 km west of Pondicherry,
partly in Tamil Nadu and partly in Pondicherry Union Territory
Area: 800 ha
Altitude: c.10 m
Description of site: A water-storage reservoir on
the coastal plain of Tamil Nadu, north of the Kaveri river, about 16 km south-southwest
of the much larger Kaliveli Tank (site 121). The tank, bunded along its western
shore, is fed by local run-off and an intermittent river, and has an average
depth of one metre when fully flooded. It dries out completely during the
dry season Climatic conditions: Tropical monsoon climate, with an average
annual rainfall of 1200 mm. Mean temperatures range from 28�C in winter to
39'C in summer
Principal vegetation: No information
Land use: Fishing, grazing of domestic livestock, and harvesting
of grasses and reeds for thatching Possible changes inland use and proposed
development projects: It has been suggested that Ousteri Tank be developed
as a holiday resort with hotels and sporting facilities to cater to the inhabitants
of Pondicherry
Disturbances and threats: Excessive grazing of aquatic vegetation
and some illegal hunting of waterfowl
Economic and social values: No information
Fauna: An important wintering area for migratory
waterfowl, Ousteri Tank is much more suitable for diving ducks than the nearby
Kaliveli Tank. Peak counts in the winters of 1986-87 and 1987-88 included
13,500 dabbling ducks (mainly Anas querquedula. A. penelope, A. acute, and
A. clypeata) and, 100 Phalacrocorax spp. 930 Egretta spp. 110 Ardea cinerea
150 Anastomus okitans 320 Ciconia ciconia 160 Threskiornis melanocephalus
74 Plegadis falcinellus600 Aythya ferina 800 A. fuligula 100 Fulica atra 250
Himantopus himantopus 100 other shorebirds Ousteri Tank benefits from its
proximity to Kaliveli Tank, and when the latter dries out, some species such
as egrets, storks, and ibises, move to Ousteri
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