Over 3.5 lakh winter birds of 70 species delight tourists

Srirangapatna: Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary near Srirangapatna in Mandya district has seen early arrival of migratory birds with over 3.5 lakh birds being spotted this season. The early arrival of birds to the Sanctuary has brought cheer to both bird watchers and Forest  Department officials.

This year, according to Deputy Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) I.B. Prabhu Gowda, hundreds of birds of 70 species have landed early at Ranganathittu for nesting and breeding. He said that every year, Ranganathittu sees birth of scores of hatchlings and added that winter migration season usually begins in December and will last till mid-May and by that time, hatchlings are able to fly on their own.

Migratory birds arrive here in batches and in different seasons. The highest of them arrive during winter migration and they come from Siberia, Latin America and North India. The abundant availability of fish and aquatic insects in River Cauvery makes Ranganathittu a preferred nesting site for migratory birds.

Spread across 66 acres and having over 24 islands and islets including Openbill Island, Large Cormorant Island, Kaadu Hunasemara Island, Stone Bill Island, Stone Flower Island, Neeranji Island, Hatthi Mara Island, Purple Heron Island and the Bamboo Island, Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary is the biggest in Karnataka. The paddy fields surrounding the Sanctuary prove to be a perfect place for birds to pick straws for nesting.

Some of the bird species that nest in Ranganathittu during peak winter season are: Little Cormorant, Night Heron, Large Cormorant, White Ibis, Darter, Lesser Whistling Teal, River Tern, Indian Cliff Swallow, Spoon-Billed Stork, Painted Stork and Pelican, Asian Openbill Storks, Eurasian Spoonbills, Oriental Darters (snake bird), Spot-Billed Pelicans, Black-Crowned Night Herons, Black-Headed Ibises and                 brilliantly-coloured Kingfishers among other species.

The early arrival and increasing number of migratory birds this season is a sign of a promising breeding season ahead, making Ranganathittu a crucial hub for both migratory and local bird species.

According to the Autumn Bird Census conducted on Oct. 9,  about 947 birds of 43 species including Eurasian Collared Dove, Ashy Prinia, Oriental Magpie Robin, Black Drongo, White-Spotted Fantail, Golden Oriole, Indian Grey Hornbill, White-Checked Barbet, Coppersmith Barbet, Southern Coucal, White-Naped Woodpecker, Pied Bushchat and Crested Serpent Eagle among other species were spotted during the census of the birds.