Uppalapadu - migratory birds

Uppalapadu is a place of bird migration and a village near Guntur City, India. It is also a reputed bird sanctuary. Home to around 40 species of migratory birds . From countries like Siberia, Australia Painted Storks, Spotted Pelicans and other birds migrate and use the sanctuary. Many species birds including endangered Spot-Billed Pelicans and Painted Storks take refuge in this water tanks in the village .The bird population in these tanks are around 7000, in this dwindling habitat through the year.But some initiatives have taken place such as adding artificial trees, local awareness, proper water supply to the ponds etc. The artificial tress are added in the pond on which the birds can perch in addition to the natural trees.

On an average, over 3,500 Pelicans visit this Bird Protection Centre of the Department of Forests, and a similar number of Painted Storks share the 4.5-acre densely populated sanctuary.The uniqueness of this sanctuary is that one can spot a number of birds throughout the year. The number of birds inhabiting this small stretch of land/water body also makes it one of the densest place inhabited by migratory birds at any given time, anywhere in India, though the number could range between 3,000 and 12,000.

I visited the sanctuary in the last week of January, 2014. The pictures shot with Tamron 200-400/5 on Nikon D300 are as follows.