Fruit bowl beckons birds to Ranganathittu

BANGALORE: There’s some good news flying in for avian guests at Ranganathittu bird sanctuary, near Mysore. Authorities have developed a 7.2-acre garden with fruit-yielding trees. This is to ensure that birds don’t skip the sanctuary from their itinerary owing to fewer avenues for food.

Hundreds of fruit trees in and around the sanctuary have been axed for various reasons, including human habitation and road-widening projects. According to an ornithologist who didn’t want to be named, any bird sanctuary and fruit trees go hand in hand and a sanctuary may not draw birds in the absence of fruit trees.

“Do you think birds will continue to come here if they don’t have fruit trees ? Never. I have been studying Ranganathittu sanctuary for over 25 years and I am confident that dry land birds are decreasing in number in recent years primarily because of the axing of fruit trees,” he said.

He says the matter was brought to the notice of sanctuary and forest officials. “But sanctuary officials are limited to their boundaries. Forest officials are not firm in their decisions. So both officials have been unable to prevent the axing of fruit-bearing trees,” he said.

Jamun, fig, sapota, guava, mango and banana saplings have been planted in the plantation and people are free to move around inside. “If visitors damage trees or do any illegal activity, we may consider restricting their movement,” officials said.

FRUITY TREAT

Jamun, fig, sapota, guava, mango and banana saplings have been planted Dryland birds spotted here are hornbill, robin, koel, sun bird, mynah, drongo 3 more acres will be added to the garden to plant more fruitbearing trees