MVP: Uppalapadu

Uppalapadu is a village near Guntur City, in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. It is also a reputed bird. It is one of the only three places in India where Spot-Billed Pelicans nest, while they reside at other places too.

Painted Storks, Spot-billed Pelicans and other birds migrate from various countries such as Siberia, Australia and use the sanctuary. The water tanks in the village are unique as they provide refuge to many species birds including endangered Spot-Billed Pelicans and Painted Storks. The bird population in these tanks used to be around 12,000 previously, however lately only about 7000 birds roost 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 trees are added in the pond on which the birds can perch in addition to the natural trees. During the visit to the sanctuary on 16 February, 2008, the author could found only about 1500 spotted bill grey pelican(pelecanus philippensis) and a slightly less number of Painted Stork(mycteria leucocephala). Besides this 6 pintail ducks a few cormorant 5 red crested pochard(rhodonesa rufina), common coot, common teal, black-headed ibises, 2 stilts were also sighted.

Spot-billed Pelicans Pelecanus philippensis in Uppalapadu, Andhra Pradesh, India. The ever increasing demand of land both for building and cultivation by the villagers, location of a Zilla Parishad High School within the pelicnary and denudation of Kikar tree( Botanical Name: Prosopis velutina) which is the main stay of the pelican and stork colony, are imminent threat to this sanctuary. Instead of erecting wire mesh artificial-trees the forest department should plant more Prosopis velutina tree in and around this swamp. The ibises and painted stork were found scavenging on the left over rotten fish droppings of pelican along with jungle crow. The main diet being fed to the chicks was both fresh and sea water fish. Some of the fish, particularly LabeoRohita (Carp) and other sea fish, which had dropped from the nests, were fresh and about 0.8 kg in weight. They must have been brought from nearest river and sea which is about 20-30 km away from the site since the pelicans were not found fishing from nearby ponds. A recent visit on 2nd. February 2009 has confirmed that the large wire mesh tree which were provided by the Forest department are being used for nest making by the pelican, although it was not done so in the initial years. This pelicanary has completed ten years operation in 2009. Some pelicans have now opted another pond at Ramchandrapalem which is about 4 km from this site towards Guntur.

Karnataka, Kerala-TN Border are the other two places where these large winged creatures nest. Some nesting grounds of Burma, Malaysia and Vietnam got destroyed or were deserted for various reasons leading to increase in numbers at Uppalapadu. In practice these Pelicans and Painted Storks have found a new tank at Garapadu a little over 4 k.m. from Uppalapadu, for nesting and for the past several months this panchayat tank is being inhabited by about 500 pelicans and 50 painted storks due to shortage of space at Uppalapadu.A Zilla Parishad School is housed in a small island inside the tank on a 2.5 acre site and there is sufficient water around the school, but due to regular visit of human beings, these birds have not nested on some of the trees that are most suitable for their purpose. If the Gram Panchayat agrees and gets an alternative land with the help of Zilla Parishad and District Administration for the School Building, this could become country’s largest nesting ground for Pelicans.At Uppalapadu first half of February is the best time for visitors see young chicks making efforts to fly out and by June-July a new species of birds -- Open Bill Storks and White Ibis will takeover the space and fly out some time in October.

Route: From Guntur City this place is 10 Kms away and nearer to N.T.R Manasa Sarovaram on N.H-5.

* MVP is Must Visit Places (a place worth to Visit)

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