Bengaluru: The Jakkur lake has now become the new haunt of city’s bird watchers, with more than 300 pelicans are nesting here, thereby indicating an improvement of its water quality. Experts say efforts to restore this north Bengaluru lake and stoppage of sewage water has paid off. The lake is now home to a large fish population, which is attracting birds.
The bird experts also point out that for the first time there has been a shift in pelican nesting, from the lakes in south Bengaluru to north Bengaluru. “During early 1990s, we have recorded hundreds of pelicans and other water birds in the tanks of North Bengaluru. The Hebbal and Nagawara lakes accounted for the most numbers of pelicans and similar aquatic birds. But for the last few years both these lakes were not attracting birds. At the same time it’s nice to see pelicans have now taken up nesting in Jakkur lake. It also indicates the lake may be home to rich fish fauna, as pelicans require large amount of fish, especially when they are nesting. For the next few weeks, the lake will be a bird watchers’ favorite destination in Bengaluru,” said M.B. Krishna, a bird expert.
He also pointed that it’s unusual to see the birds like baya weavers nesting so close to the city. “Baya weavers usually take up nesting in country side lakes and ponds. But at Jakkur they are nesting in large numbers, which proves that the water body is now attracting both the terrestrial and aquatic birds,” he added.
S. Vishwanth, a wetland expert and advisor to Arghyam Foundation, which deals with water and sanitation projects, said the Jakkur lake is turning out to be an example on how the restored water bodies could attract birds.
“When the authorities ensured that the sewage does not enter the lake, its water quality improved tremendously, which in turn is attracting birds,” he added.
Besides the pelicans and baya weavers, birds of other species, the bird watchers were last week pleasantly surprised to find red munias and oriental white eye birds at Jakkur lake.
“It’s a refreshing to sight so many birds, which were otherwise hard to find near Bengaluru. Though the suburban areas like Bannerghatta and lakes on Mysuru road attract birds, it’s the first time that so many birds have now taken up nesting at Jakkur lake, which is located well within the urban sprawl, said a bird watcher. The efforts by the lake experts and government agencies for the last few years are now showing results, he added.
