As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Sunday, 19 February 2017

Ankasamudra Lake is now a bird reserve




By Meera Bhardwaj  |  Express News Service  |   Published: 05th February 2017 06:26 AM  |  
Last Updated: 05th February 2017 06:26 AM  |   A+A A-   |  

BENGALURU: A haven for thousands of migratory birds and hundreds of species, Ankasamudra Lake,  just 1 km away from the Tungabhadra backwaters, has been declared a ‘Birds Conservation Reserve’ as per Section 36 A of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. This will be the first such reserve in the Hyderabad-Karnataka region.

As per the government order dated January 31, the Ankasamudra Birds Conservation Reserve will be located in Ankasamudra village, Hagaribommanahalli taluk in Ballari. Spread across 244 acres, it will comprise the entire tank bund area in Survey no. 203 in this village but excludes enclosures and patta lands.

What makes it a reserve?
This has been declared as a reserve for its ecologicy, fauna, flora and geo-morphologic importance and for the purpose of protecting, propagating and developing wildlife or its environment and to protect the important breeding habitats of migratory birds and other local species.

The tank bund area is a unique habitat of migratory birds and other species which are listed in various schedules of Wildlife Protection Act. The order says the birds are under threat of poaching, destruction of nests and eggs and so there is a need to protect the habitats of both resident and migratory species.

Bird conservationist Vijay Ittigi who has been documenting them for the last 4-5 years, said, “There are 175 species (of  bird)and even 11 species from the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List in and around Ankasamudra. Unfortunately, trees are being cut. Further, encroachment in the upstream areas of the lake results in drying up of the lake. There is a need to put a 250 hp motor to draw water from the Venkavadoota Yeta Neeravari so that the lake has water for birds.”

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