The state of Andhra Pradesh is located in the southern part of India. This state has beaches, hills, caves, wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, forests, lakes, pilgrimage sites, etc. They have not only beautified this state but have also made Andhra Pradesh one of the famous tourist destinations of India. Andhra Pradesh also has bird sanctuaries, which form a part of the places of attraction in the state.
Kolleru Bird Sanctuary
Kolleru Bird Sanctuary is located in two districts of Andhra Pradesh namely, Krishna and West Godavari districts. It was established in November, 1999 and occupies an area of about 673 square kilometers. Kolleru Lake wetland is a part of the sanctuary. Some of the birds noticed at the lake site are common redshanks, red-crested pochards, glossy ibis, cormorants and Asian-open billed stork. Phargmytis Karka is a weed growing in the sanctuary, which can attain a height of about 10 feet. It plays an important role in providing shelter to some species of birds.
Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary
Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary is situated in Nellore district. It is spread over an area of about 458.92 hectares. It is mostly covered with southern dry evergreen scrub. This sanctuary houses about 187 bird species, 50 of which are migratory. This sanctuary functions as an important breeding site for birds like white ibis, openbill stork, night heron and little cormorant.
Uppalapadu Bird Sanctuary
Uppalapadu Bird Sanctuary is located in Uppalapadu, a village near Guntur City. This sanctuary serves as a home to about 40 species of migratory birds from Siberia including pelicans and white ibis. It is one of the only three places in India where Spot-Billed Pelicans nest. Considering the reduction in the bird population in the tanks of the village, some steps were undertaken like growing artificial trees, providing proper water supply to the ponds, etc. In 2009, the large wire mesh trees were traced being used for nest made by the pelicans. Apart from pelicans and white ibis, pintail ducks, cormorants, red crested pochards, common coot, common teal, black-headed ibises and stilts have also been recorded in the village.
Telineelapuram and Telukunchi Bird Sanctuaries
Telineelapuram and Telukunchi Bird Sanctuaries are located in Srikakulam district. Telineelapuram and Telukunchi are villages which are visited by over 3,000 pelicans and painted storks from Siberia every year, during September. These birds continue to stay till the month of March. Researchers at Andhra University are of the view that the migratory movement of birds was first recorded over 15 years ago, when the number of birds exceeded 10,000. This number has lowered to about 3,000.
