Winged visitors from Siberia

The arrival of winged beauties from Siberia to Mandagadde near here has commenced. Median Egret, Darter and Little Cormorant arrive to Mandagadde from Siberia in the month of June. They nest here, train the young ones in the art of flying, hunting and start homewards in the month of December.

 The ‘early birds’ have already laid the eggs in the nests on an island on Tunga river and are busy hatching. The ‘fresh arrivals’ were busy in building the nests. Egrets which wait on the bank of the island pick up the sticks which come floating on the river. They prefer an elevated place to construct the nests as the entire island will be inundated when Tunga flows above danger mark. The birds prey on the fish in Tunga river. They also feed on crab and insects in the paddy fields nearby.

High scale soil erosion is reported here. Initiatives to prevent soil erosion is necessary. The adaptability and the shrewdness of the Egrets is such that since the nests were washed away in swirling water of Tunga four years ago, they are opting elevated position now.