Veerapuram is a small hamlet on Karnataka Andhra border
easily accessible from the diversion on the Kodikonda-Lepakshi road. During
December to May-June painted storks dot almost every tree in the village. The
birds migrate every year to this village from Siberia. Many young birds which
have once fallen down from nests with twisted leg, damaged wings.etc, stay back
in village for lifetime and villagers take care of them. They have lots of
preserved-fish for feeding these birds. More birds were present at the
beginning of the season than the number of nests.
There are different types of trees in
Veerapuram village and hence enough nest building space is available for birds.
Apart from the green vegetation, there are many small herbs, shrubs and wild
grass all over the village. Dry branches and twigs of plants scattered on the
ground along with sticks from same trees and others can be used for nest
building. The nest building material may be reused year after year. Both male
and female birds were involved in nest building and they may take about 5-7
days to build a nest. Although no preference is shown to any plant materiel,
some birds choose aromatic plant material for constructing nests, which may
have insecticidal properties to repel predators.
The painted storks (Mycteria leucocephala)
have been a visitor to Veerapuram village, for more than a century. This
heronry is quite large with more than 1,000 birds. This could improve if there
is enough food available for birds. Protection of species and conservation of
their habitats is the need of the hour by constructing artificial ponds, tanks
and planting. The climate change affecting monsoon is also a concern as nesting
for breeding of painted storks is monsoon dependent
Comments
Post a Comment