Kokkare Bellur Bird Village

Kokkare Bellur is a village in Maddur Taluk, Mandya District, Karnataka, renowned as a community-protected bird nesting site. Spot-billed pelicans and painted storks nest in large numbers on tamarind and fig trees within the village itself. Unlike a fenced sanctuary, birds breed among homes and fields, protected by villagers for generations. Located near the Shimsha River, about 80 km from Bengaluru, it is one of India's unique village pelicanries.

Visitors can expect a rural village landscape where large waterbirds nest on tall trees in streets, backyards and fields. During nesting season, spot-billed pelicans and painted storks can be seen building nests, incubating eggs and feeding chicks, along with ibises, egrets and other waterbirds. There are no enclosures; viewing is from village lanes and open fields. The setting is quiet and agricultural, with paddy fields, tamarind groves and views of the Shimsha River. Local guides may assist with bird identification.

Kokkare Bellur has a long history of human-bird coexistence, with pelicans and storks nesting in the village for many generations. The villagers have traditionally protected nesting trees and birds, considering their arrival as a sign of prosperity and good monsoon. The site gained wider recognition in the 20th century as an important pelicanry and has been documented as a community conservation model.

The village is noted for its community-based conservation ethic where residents protect nesting birds, avoid felling nesting trees, and tolerate droppings and noise during breeding season. Birds are regarded as part of village life and as indicators of good fortune, reflecting a cultural tradition of coexistence between people and wildlife.