Every year, the small village of Telineelapuram in Srikakulam’s Tekkali Mandal comes alive with the arrival of its winged guests—Pelicans and Painted Storks. These magnificent birds migrate from the Medvezhiy Islands in Siberia, covering an impressive distance of 12,000 kilometers, to breed in this serene location from late September until April.
For decades, these birds have chosen Telineelapuram as their breeding ground, forming pairs and building nests in the tamarind, bamboo, ficus religiosa, neem, and manila tamarind trees. Each pair typically lays two to four eggs, which they carefully guard and nourish by feeding fish sourced from nearby ponds. Once their young mature, they make the long journey back to Siberia.
The arrival of these birds is not only a natural wonder but also holds cultural significance for the local community. “We believe that the arrival of these birds signifies an abundant crop yield,” says Sirla Ganapathi Rao, the Sarpanch of Telineelapuram. He shared that a tragic fire in 1960 wiped out the bird population in the area, and in more recent times, the Hudhud and Titli storms destroyed trees, causing further harm to the visiting birds.
To protect the birds from such adversities, the village has taken proactive measures by installing iron rods and creating shelters for the migratory birds. Despite these challenges, the pelicans and painted storks return every year, and the villagers consider it their responsibility to care for these avian visitors.
In 2021, the pelicans and painted storks faced a dire situation when about 30 birds perished in just three days. To conserve these species, the forest department has allocated funds for their protection. Ganapathi Rao urges the department to continue maintaining the right conditions for the birds to breed safely.
Pelicans are part of the duck family and are known for their impressive size. Weighing about 8kg, these birds have a wingspan of 118 inches and can consume up to 4kg of fish daily. Their distinctive bag-shaped jaw can store up to 4kg of fish at a time, and their eggs weigh around 150 grams, with each pelican laying four eggs per breeding season. The chicks mature in 28 days and begin breeding in three months. With a lifespan of about 29 years, pelicans can travel up to 100 kilometers per hour and make several trips daily to hunt for food.
Painted Storks, on the other hand, belong to the stork family. Weighing around 5kg, they have a wingspan of 63 inches and primarily feed on small fish, insects, and snails. Their eggs weigh about 75 grams, and like pelicans, they lay four eggs per season. Painted stork chicks also mature in 28 days but take about three years to breed like fully mature storks. These birds typically go out twice a day to fetch food, and like their pelican counterparts, they can live up to 29 years.
The return of these migratory birds to Telineelapuram each year is not only a testament to the resilience of nature but also to the enduring bond between the local community and their feathered visitors.
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