Call Of The Hill Myna...

Dear Nature lovers, Those of you who have been following the River linking/diversion proposals in Karnataka, might find this useful. The following is the advertisement that appeared in the Times of India, Bangalore, April 17, 2007 (Page 19) regarding " Soubhagya Sanjeevini ", the name given to River diversion / linking project in Karnataka's Western Ghats. Please click on the advertisement below to enlarge it

Cutting across all man made barriers like Nationality, Race, Language, Religion, bird watchers round the earth share the same passion - birds. But the expressions that spring out of each birder, upon watching these living gems vary with each human. While some shoot with cameras, many others tend to recreate the magic with their hands. Among them is Narasimhan.S.V. A medical doctor by profession, Dr.Narasimhan hails from Coorg or Kodagu district of Krnataka. Nestled amidst the lush green Western Ghats, Kodagu is a land of Rainforests and Waterfalls. And birds of the rainforests spell magic for Dr.Narasimhan, as his joy spills out in the form of Colour hand sketches.

Known as " Dodda Aalada Mara " in south India's Kannada language (meaning 'Big Banyan tree') this is one of the largest Banyan trees in south India. Its branches spead over a wide area making the tree quite a spectacle. You can see many of its branches and roots in the above picture. The tree is revered by locals as sacred and is protected. The tree is home to varied wildlife including different species of owls and also some wood pigeons.

Kaggaladu is a small village in Tumkur district in south eastern part of Karnataka state. Since 1999, the villagers have been a welcome host for Painted Storks and Grey Herons, which annually breed on the trees inside the village and raise their young ones. The village was first made known to the outside world in 1999 by members  Wildlife Aware Nature Club (WANC) , a Tumakuru based NGO . WANC has been monitoring the nesting colony and the wetlands used by these birds since then. A group of young kids stand guard near the Painted Stork and Grey Heron nesting colony at Kaggaladu Village in Sira taluk of Tumkur District. Painted storks nesting on one of the many tamarind trees inside Kaggaladu The birds nest and roost on tamarind and ficus trees. While there are nests of both the species on some trees, on majority of the trees only Painted storks breed. The nesting birds are joined by more Painted storks and Grey herons who arrive to roost. Grey Pelicans ( Pelecanus phili

A) INTRODUCTION: Jayamangali Blackbuck Conservation Reserve borders Maidenahalli, a small village in the plains of Deccan Plateau, at the north-eastern tip of Tumkur district of Karnataka state, bordering Anantpur district of Andhra Pradesh. Apart from Jayamangali reserve, a few herds of blackbuck are found scattered through the eastern parts of Karnataka. But the single largest population of blackbuck in Karnataka, apart from Ranibennur Wildlife Sanctuary, is found in and around Jayamangali reserve. This is a seven hundred ninety eight acre patch of grassland planted mainly with eucalyptus and Acacia auriculiformis . It is probably the best place in Karnataka to photograph blackbuck, raptors and grassland birds apart from other grassland flora and fauna.  A screenshot from Google earth (FROM SOUTH) of Jayamangali Blackbuck Reserve near Mydanahalli village in Madhugiri taluk, Tumkur District dated 14 July 2014. Another view of  Jayamangali Blackbuck Conservation Reser