Kaggaladu -Habitat conservation

Kaggaladu (Kannada: ಕಗ್ಗಲಡು) is a small village in the historic Sira taluk of 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. Kaggaladu is located about 9 km to the north-west of Sira town on the Sira-Chengavara Main Road and the heronry was first made known to the outside world in 1999 by members of the Tumkur-based NGO Wildlife Aware Nature Club.

Painted storks:(Mycteria Leucocephala):-

Field characteristics:-

A typical large stork with long heavy yellow billslightly decurved near the tip, and unfeathered waxy yellow face.Plumage white, closely barred and marked with black above, and with a black band across breasts.The only European white stork having a delicate rose- pink about shoulders and wings.Sexes alike, pairs, parties, large congregations at jheels and marshals.The Painted Stork walks slowly and steadily in shallow waters or adjacent wet and grassland seeking its prey, which, like that of most of its relatives, includes fish, frogs and large insects. It sweeps its head from side to side with its bill half open in water as it hunts for fish.

Distribution:-

Through India, Pakistan, Nepal,Bangladesh,Srilanka,Myanmar.Resident and Locally migratory.Painted storks are seen occupying Indian freshwater marshes, ponds and flooded fields.

Physical Characteristics:-

The adult is a large bird, mainly white with black flight feathers. The head is red, and the long down-curved bill is yellow. A medium-sized stork, it is 93-102 cm (37-40 in) tall, 150-160 cm (59-63 in) in wingspan and weighs 2-3.5 kg (4.4-7.7 lbs). The tail and legs are pink, and there is dark barring on the breast. Juvenile birds are a duller version of the adult, generally browner and lacking the bright colours of the adult.

Nesting:-

The large stick nest is built in a forest tree, and 2-5 eggs is a typical clutch.Nesting season varies with the local conditions.

Behavior:-
Painted Storks are found mostly in large colonies and stay near water. The nests, made up of sticks and leaves, are built close to the edge of the water. One can see other stork species, like herons, ibises, cormorants and spoonbills, sharing the habitat with Painted storks. Till 18 months of age, the young ones can make loud calls to attract their parents. However, after this, they lose their speech and use other signals to convey something to their fellow birds.
Mating Behavior:-
The breeding season of the Painted stork starts towards the end of the rainy season. The mating period is the time for the male storks to perform ritualistic displays and attract females. After mating, the nest is built and the female lays around 3 to 5 eggs. The incubation period is between 27 and 32 days and the responsibility is shared by the both the parents. The young ones become fully matured when they attain four years of age.
Senses
The most important as well as the most developed senses of the Painted stork comprise of its eyesight and hearing. The young ones communicate through loud hoarse call. However, after attaining 18 moths of age, the style of communication changes to clattering of large bills or hissing or bowing to each other or spreading the wings, etc.

Concern:-Kaggaladu is in need of serious sustainable conservation effort to maintain itself as one of the most important breeding sites for Painted Stork. With the strong support of villagers.We can make a home for these migrating birds.Birds visit this place during January to June. Along with Painted strokes, herons, black ibis are main attractions.