Uppalapadu

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Uppalapadu
—  village  —
Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis) at Uppalapadu
Uppalapadu is located in Andhra Pradesh
Uppalapadu
Location in Andhra Pradesh, India
Coordinates: 16°11′N 80°18′E / 16.18°N 80.30°E / 16.18; 80.30Coordinates: 16°11′N 80°18′E / 16.18°N 80.30°E / 16.18; 80.30
Country  India
State Andhra Pradesh
District Guntur
Elevation 19 m (62 ft)
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Lok Sabha constituency Guntur

Uppalapadu is a village near Guntur City, in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. It is most noted for containing the Uppalapadu Bird Center .[1]

Contents

Geography [edit]

Uppalapadu is located at 16°11′N 80°18′E / 16.18°N 80.30°E / 16.18; 80.30.[2]

Uppalapadu Bird Center [edit]

Heronry in Uppalapadu, Andhra Pradesh, India.

The Bird Center is a part of the village,just after the village entrance. Painted Storks, Spot-billed Pelicans and other birds migrate from various countries such as Siberia, Australia and use the center for nesting.[1] The water tanks in the village are unique as they provide refuge to many species birds including endangered Spot-Billed Pelicans and Painted Storks. (Pictures of Birds at Uppalapadu) The bird population in these tanks used to be around 12,000 previously, however lately only about 7000 birds roost in this dwindling habitat through the year. But some initiatives have taken place such as adding artificial trees, local awareness, proper water supply to the ponds etc. The artificial trees are added in the pond on which the birds can perch in addition to the natural trees.[3][4] The number of Pelicans, may be more than 1500.[5] Besides this 6 pintail ducks a few cormorant 5 red crested pochard(rhodonesa rufina), common coot, common teal, black-headed ibises, 2 stilts were also sighted.

Spot-billed Pelicans Pelecanus philippensis in Uppalapadu, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Instead of erecting wire mesh artificial-trees the forest department should plant more Prosopis velutina tree in and around this swamp. The ibises and painted stork were found scavenging on the left over rotten fish droppings of pelican along with jungle crow. The main diet being fed to the chicks was both fresh and sea water fish. Some of the fish, particularly LabeoRohita (Carp) and other sea fish, which had dropped from the nests, were fresh and about 0.8 kg in weight. They must have been brought from nearest river and sea which is about 20–30 km away from the site since the pelicans were not found fishing from nearby ponds. In 2009 the large wire mesh trees which were provided by the Forest department are being used for nest making by the pelicans, although they did not do so in the initial years. This pelicanary has completed ten years operation in 2009. Some pelicans have now opted to use another pond at Ramchandrapalem which is about 4 km from this site towards Guntur.

Conflict with villagers [edit]

The ever increasing demand of land both for building and cultivation by the villagers, location of a Zilla Parishad High School within the pelicanary and denudation of Kikar tree (Botanical Name: Prosopis velutina) which is the main stay of the pelican and stork colony, are imminent threat to this center. The villagers have also made numerous complaints about the Center being too close to the village. The main issue is that the birds use the same water body that is being used by the villagers for domestic purposes.


Gallery of birds of Uppalapadu [edit]

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Visiting [edit]

Uppalapadu can be reached via Guntur, the nearest city. the Village is 10.4 km from Guntur and roads are well-developed. The village is simple; no tourist accommodation is yet available, and even food, drink and other commodities are not easily available.

Notes [edit]

  1. ^ a b "Uppalapadu Bird sanctuary". Online edition of The Hindu (Chennai, India). 2005-07-20. Retrieved 2007-08-01. 
  2. ^ "Location co-ordinates of Uppalapadu". Wikimapia. Retrieved 2007-08-01. 
  3. ^ "Preparing for the Winged visitors". Online edition of The Hindu (Chennai, India). 2007-07-11. Retrieved 2007-08-01. 
  4. ^ "Siberian birds attract visitors". Online edition of The Hindu (Chennai, India). 2006-12-29. Retrieved 2007-08-01. 
  5. ^ "Villagers come to aid of Uppalapadu bird sanctuary". The Hindu (Chennai, India). 2005-07-20. 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Uppalapadu

Visited uppalapadu bird nesting area (the government of India has not made it a sanctuary; making it a sanctuary would benefit the birds by allocating funds and personnel) at the end of July there were 1100 birds, mostly white Asian openbills

External links [edit]