Ranganathitoo Bird Sanctuary

Description:: The Ranganathitoo Bird Sanctuary is situated on a group of small islands in the River Kaveri. This sanctuary is a haven for water birds which nest on the branches of trees on tiny islands, and in the reeds and sedges along the river. The peculiarity of this sanctuary is the very early commencement of nesting with the first rains of the monsoon in June. An assured and plentiful food supply, with the numerous irrigation channels around the park and low fields providing plenty of prey, is probably the reason for the early breeding conditions.

The main breeding birds of Ranganathitoo are the three kinds of cormorants, the darter or the snake bird, pond herons, cattle egrets, night heron, all three kinds of true egrets, open billed storks, white ibis, river terns, great stone plovers and spoon bills. Most of the species of birds that nest in Ranganathitoo are native to the sanctuary while others like the river tern, though found in small numbers throughout the year, arrive literally in thousands during the month of May and leave at the onset of the monsoon. By the end of June, most of the birds are sitting on their eggs and by July the chicks are hatched, causing hectic activity in the sanctuary! An activity worth observing is the nest building and chick rearing of the tiny weaver birds. It is also fascinating to spot the fruit eaters and bee-eaters, and also birds of prey, a kingfisher diving for prey and the rare nocturnal collared scops owl.

Prominent birds:At Ranganathitoo, you can see the cormorants of the three kinds, darter or the snake bird, pond heron, cattle egret, night heron, all three kinds of true egrets, open billed storks, white ibis, spoon bill, river tern, weaver bird, kingfisher and the rare nocturnal collared scops owl.

Best Season: The best time to visit Ranganathitoo is after the onset of the monsoons in July or at the end of October.

Access: The nearest town is Mysore, 16 km away from Ranganathitoo, which is well-connected to the rest of the country.

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