The return back of grey pelicans bird to Kolleru Lake has generated a wonderful amount of academic interest in the avian fauna of the lake. The amount of migratory and residential birds recorded by the Wildlife Division of the Forest Department has almost accomplished 200.
Several species of jacanas, storks, herons, ducks, teals, cormorants, daters, terns, pigeons, doves, swifts, kingfishers, drongos, bee-eaters, cuckoos, parakeets, swallows, bitterns, owls and sparrows are on the list of birds that have made a home in the lake. Many of these birds were rare and threatened spices. The large whistling teal is listed in Schedule-I of the Wildlife (Protection Act) 1972. The migratory birds stopped coming and the residential birds left with the devastation of their habitat by unregulated aquaculture.
The grey pelican birds were among the first birds to stop arriving to the lake to roost. But the many steps has taken by the Forest Department brought these large birds back.
The birds remained away from the lake for a couple of decades. The lake which is a Ramsar site was then announced a wildlife sanctuary. Several illegal fish tanks were destroyed as part of Operation Kolleru. The birds came back after that, but did not stay to perch in the season. The Forest Department then took special steps to see that the pelicans that were coming every year remained back in Atapaka to nest.
The grey pelican birds were among the first birds to stop arriving to the lake to roost. But the many steps has taken by the Forest Department brought these large birds back.
The birds remained away from the lake for a couple of decades. The lake which is a Ramsar site was then announced a wildlife sanctuary. Several illegal fish tanks were destroyed as part of Operation Kolleru. The birds came back after that, but did not stay to perch in the season. The Forest Department then took special steps to see that the pelicans that were coming every year remained back in Atapaka to nest.
