Mangalore: Chirping Visitors Enliven Kotepura Surroundings
Pics by Dayananda Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Dec 17: Migratory birds of all colours and sizes have started arriving at Kotepura in Ullal near here, where the confluence of river Netravati and Arabian Sea is located. A few thousand birds have chosen this place as their home for the winter. Birds of different sizes are making a beeline for this picturesque place, from different corners of the country and perhaps, even abroad.
Kotepura houses a fishing jetty. Factories processing fish are also located here. Prominently, two species of birds make Kotepura their home. The birds start arriving by mid-November. Compared to previous year, the number of birds that have flocked here is much more, feel locals.
White 'igret' birds that have distinguishing features of long legs and blue necks and birds belonging to the 'heron' species can be seen lining up the sea shore here. These birds have habitats not only all over India right from the northern corner to the southern tip, but also other neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Srilanka and Burma. They primarily feed on aquatic animals. Igrets prefer estuaries to settle down. These migratory birds normally choose warmer sites in southern India to live from November to February, to escape from harsh witner season elsewhere.
The birds migrate for various reasons like habitat, food availability and weather. Several kinds of birds which are natives of places having volatile climate prefer to migrate to hotter places during winter. Resident birds do not migrate as they find their habitats relatively safer. A glance at the birds which flutter their wings, dive down like expert divers, eagerly look around and enthusiastically move about, oblivious to what is going around, compels one to wonder at their ability to adapt to different places and makes one to ponder about the fuss and confusion human beings create while undertaking a small travel, even though it is for a short period.