Kaggaladu Bird Sanctuary

Kaggaladu Bird Sanctuary is a community-protected heronry in Kaggaladu village, Sira Taluk, Tumakuru District, Karnataka, about 9 km from Sira town. It is notable as the second largest painted stork sanctuary in South India, where hundreds of painted storks and grey herons nest on tamarind and banyan trees. Villagers actively protect the birds, and the sanctuary offers seasonal birdwatching during the breeding season from February to August.

Visitors can expect a small rural sanctuary centered on a grove of tamarind, banyan and ficus trees within Kaggaladu village where large colonies of painted storks and grey herons nest. The setting is open village farmland with scattered trees, bunds and fields. There are no large built structures; viewing is from village roads and field edges at a distance from nesting trees. Bird activity is highest in early morning and late afternoon during the breeding season.

Kaggaladu has hosted nesting painted storks and grey herons for several decades. The heronry gained recognition in the 1990s-2000s when the Karnataka Forest Department and local community formalized protection. Villagers have traditionally protected the nesting trees and avoided disturbing the birds, leading to its declaration as a community-protected bird sanctuary.

The sanctuary is an example of community-based conservation in Karnataka. Villagers of Kaggaladu consider the arrival and nesting of painted storks auspicious and voluntarily protect the birds by preserving nesting trees, avoiding loud celebrations and firecrackers during the breeding season, and discouraging disturbance to nests.