Veerapuram (Anantapur): While many villages witness migration of farm labourers in search of livelihood, painted storks (Mycteria leucocephala) continue to migrate to Rayalaseema’s drought hit villages, the same way they have done for over a century. About 1,500 birds are there in Veerapuram village in Chilamathur mandal in the district, occupying big trees since the past two months.
Many species of migratory birds fly to India for breeding and in search of feeding grounds every year. In AP, painted storks are spotted regularly at Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary, Pulicat Lake, Telineelapuram, Kolleru Lake, Uppalapadu, Chintapalli, Chinna maduru and Karivirala villages and Coringa Wild Life Sanctuary. But a group of birds prefer Veerapuram.
Aswartha Reddy, a resident of the village recalled, the birds had arrived at a nearby village in Karnataka many years ago. But hunters shot a few of them and the frightened birds shifted this side.
“Since then they arrive every year except during problematic conditions. We are attached to the birds and feel as if our daughters have come home for delivery,” Mr Reddy said adding the birds had not arrived for the past three consecutive years. The village is therefore in a festive mood.
Studies on painted storks have gained importance in the past decade, as their population is declining and also because they are not regularly visiting habitats. They have been categorised in Schedule IV of the Wild life (Protection) Act. 1972 and are listed as a near threatened species. Still there are only three studies which have focused on painted storks in India.
Sultanpur National Park, Haryana is where storks were first observed breeding in 1993. Delhi Zoo is another place where painted storks have been nesting regularly since 1960, Gundala Harol Philip, zoology professor from SK University, said.
Professors from SK University published a study in International Research Journal of Biological Sciences. “Every year from 2010-11 to 2013-2014, we visited Veerapuram once a week during the season the storks arrived and departed and once per fortnight during other times,” Dr. Philip recalled. No water In Tanks
The local tank at Veerapuram has dried up and birds have to fly about 50-70 kms radius every day to get fish and water. “One bird protects the chicks and the other flies to get fish from nearby tanks in Karnataka,” Adi Reddy, a farmer said.
Previously, the district administration supplied fish purchased from local markets. But, no water is available now. The amount of fish consumed daily by each bird on an average is 1.20 kgs (young) and 1.50 kgs (adult).
Though, experts suggested minimum measures like planting trees, water storage and fish rearing in the local tank in a 2008 study, no steps were initiated. The villagers said that not a single district official has visited the village this season. Two birds died one month ago due to electric shock.
“Present concern is about climate change affecting the monsoon as nesting of painted storks is monsoon dependent. Hence we recommend top priority for Veerapuram heronry, providing alternate water bodies to grow fish,” the team of professors, observed.
