Attiveri Bird Sanctuary

Attiveri Bird Sanctuary UPSC

Attiveri Bird Sanctuary is a notable bird sanctuary situated in the state of Karnataka, India. It is situated near the Attiveri Reservoir. The sanctuary is known for being a haven for various species of migratory and resident birds.

The Attiveri Bird Sanctuary is particularly famous for attracting a variety of waterbirds due to the presence of the reservoir and surrounding wetlands. During the migratory season, which generally spans from November to March, the sanctuary becomes a hotspot for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts. 

Table of Contents Location History Area Reservoir Flora Fauna UPSC Questions

Attiveri Bird Sanctuary Location

Attiveri Bird Sanctuary is located in the Mundgod taluk of Uttara Kannada district of the state of Karnataka, India. It is situated near the Attiveri Reservoir. 

The Sanctuary is well connected to important cities like Hubli, Sirsi, Haveri, Belgaum, Bangalore by road railway and air.

Nearest Airport:

The nearest airport to Attiveri Bird Sanctuary is Hubli Airport (also known as Hubballi Airport), which is approximately 43 kilometers away from the sanctuary. Hubli Airport serves domestic flights and is the closest major airport to the sanctuary.

Nearest Railway Station:

The nearest railway station to Attiveri Bird Sanctuary is Hubli Junction. Hubli Junction is a major railway station and is well-connected to various cities and towns in India. It's located at a similar distance as the airport, around 43 kilometers from the sanctuary.

Attiveri Bird Sanctuary History

1. Reservoir Construction and Location: In the year 1992, the Irrigation Department undertook the construction of a reservoir in the midst of the forests of the Mundgod range in the Yallapura Forest Division. This initiative led to the establishment of the Attiveri Bird Sanctuary.

2. Attraction of Birds: Following the reservoir's construction, a remarkable phenomenon occurred as a multitude of birds began to flock to this newly created water body. Each passing year witnessed an increasing number of birds being drawn to this site.

3. Development Efforts and Proposal: Recognizing the growing significance of this avian hotspot, the Yallapur Forest Division took proactive steps to enhance the area's suitability for bird habitation. Development projects were initiated to create a more conducive habitat for the diverse bird species that were converging here.

4. Proposal for Sanctuary Status: With the continued influx of birdlife and the implementation of habitat improvement endeavors, the Yallapur Forest Division formulated a proposal to designate this region as a protected area. This proposal aimed at safeguarding and conserving the burgeoning bird population that had come to rely on the sanctuary's resources.

5. Declaration of Attiveri Bird Sanctuary: In the year 2000, the efforts of the Yallapur Forest Division bore fruit when the Government officially recognized the ecological and ornithological significance of the Attiveri area. Consequently, the Attiveri Bird Sanctuary was established, solidifying its status as a designated sanctuary for the protection and conservation of its thriving birdlife.

Attiveri Bird Sanctuary Area

The Attiveri Bird Sanctuary covers an area of approximately 2.23 square kilometers (2.23 km²). This area is designated to provide a protected habitat for a diverse range of bird species, both migratory and resident, making it a valuable location for birdwatching and conservation efforts.

Attiveri Bird Sanctuary Reservoir

The Attiveri Bird Sanctuary is known for the Attiveri Reservoir. The sanctuary's main feature is this reservoir, which is formed by the damming of the Tayawwanahalla River. This reservoir,  along with the surrounding wetlands and forests, provides a favorable habitat for a diverse range of bird species, attracting both migratory and resident birds.

Attiveri Bird Sanctuary Flora

The Attiveri Bird Sanctuary is characterized by a variety of flora that contribute to the diverse ecosystem, which attracts and sustains a wide range of bird species. 

Here are some general types of vegetation that you can find:

• Albizia lebbeck - Bage.
• Acacia arabica - Karjiali.
• Artocarpus integrifolia - Halasu.
• Acacia leucophea - Bili Jali.
• Bombax malabarica - Buralu.
• Bambusa arundinacea - Dowga.
• Borassus flabellifer - Palmyra tree.
• Calophyllum inophyllum - Yenne Honne.
• Dalbergia species - Tadasa.
• Eugenia caryophyllata - Kunti neerala.
• Lagerstroemia lanceolata - Nandi.
• Erythrina indica - Hungarike.
• Morinda tinctoria - Matti.
• Murraya koenigii - Karibevu.
• Polyalthia longifolia - Ashoka.
• Phyllanthus emblica - Nelli.
• Tectona grandis - Teak.
• Terminalia paniculata - Kindal.
• Eugenia jambolana - Nerale.

Attiveri Bird Sanctuary Fauna (Attiveri Bird Sanctuary Animals)

The Attiveri Bird Sanctuary is home to a diverse range of fauna, including both bird species and other animals. Here are some examples of the fauna you might encounter in the sanctuary:

Mammals:

• Spotted Deer
• Barking Deer
• Sambar
• Four-horned Antelope
• Black-naped Hare
• Chevrotain
• Common Langur
• Bonnet Macaque
• Wild Boar
• Indian Porucupine 
• Jackal
• Wolf
• Common Mangoose
• Common Langur

Birds:

• Cattle Egret
• Indian Cormorants (Indian Shag)
• Little Cormorants
• Black Headed Ibis
• Eurasian Spoonbill
• Pied And White-throated Kingfishers
• Indian Grey Hornbill
• Barn Swallow
• Little Grebe
• Little Cormorant
• Darter Or Snake Bird
• Grey Heron
• Purple Heron
• Little Green Heron
• Pond Heron
• Cattle Egret
• Large Egret
• Smaller Or Median Egret
• Little Egret
• Painted Stork
• Open-Billed Stork
• White-Necked Stork
• Lesser Adjutant
• White Ibis
• Glossy Ibis
• Spoonbill
• Lesser Whistling Teal
• Pintail
• Spot-Billed Duck
• Garganey
• Shoveller
• Comb Duck
• Marsh Harrier
• Osprey
• White-Breasted Waterhen
• Coot
• Pheasant-Tailed Jacana
• Bronze-Winged Jacana
• Red-Wattled Lapwing
• Little Ringed Plover
• Spotted Sandpiper
• Common Sandpiper
• Little Stint
• Indian Black-Winged Stilt
• Stone Curlew
• Indian River Tern
• Black Ibis
• Black-Winged Kite
• Pariah Kite
• Brahminy Kite
• Shikra
• White-Backed Vulture Or Bengal Vulture
• White Scavenger Vulture
• Indian Grey Partridge
• Grey Junglefowl
• Indian Peafowl
• Indian Spotted Dove
• Blue Rock Pigeon
• Indian Ring Dove
• Rose-Ringed Parakeet
• Plum Or Blossom-Headed Parakeet
• Pied Crested Cuckoo
• Common Hawk-Cuckoo
• Indian Koel
• Crow Pheasant Or Coucal
• Spotted Owlet
• Common Indian Nightjar
• Crested Tree Swift
• Indian Pied Kingfisher
• Small Blue Kingfisher
• White-Throated Kingfisher
• Blue-Tailed Bee-Eater
• Small Green Bee-Eater
• Blue Jay Or Indian Roller
• Hoopoe
• Malabar Pied Hornbill
• Common Grey Hornbill
• Crimson-Breasted Barbet Or Copper Smith
• Large Green Barbet
• Lesser Golden-Backed Woodpecker
• Marhatta Or Yellow-Fronted Pied Woodpecker
• Brown-Crowned-Pigmy Woodpecker
• Malabar Crested Lark
• Indian Small Sky Lark
• Indian Wire-Tailed Swallow
• Red-Rumped Swallow
• Eastern Swallow
• Rufous-Backed Shrike Or Long-Tailed Shrike
• Bay-Backed Shrike
• Indian Golden Oriole
• Black Drongo Or King Crow
• Black-Headed Myna
• Rosy Pastors Or Rosy Starlings
• Indian Myna
• Jungle Myna
• Indian Tree Pie
• Indian House Crow
• Indian Jungle Crow
• Common Wood Shrike
• Malabar Small Minivet
• Scarlet Minivet
• Black-Headed Cuckoo
• Peninsular Indian Lora
• Gold-Fronted Chloropsis
• Gold-Mantled Chloropsis
• Red-Whiskered Bulbul
• Red-Vented Bulbul
• White-Browed Bulbul
• Yellow-Eyed Babbler
• White-Headed Babbler
• Jungle Babbler
• Tickell's Blue Flycatcher
• Verditer Flycatcher
• Paradise Flycatcher
• White-Browed Fantail Flycatcher
• White-Spotted Fantail Flycatcher
• Streaked Fantail Warbler
• Ashy Wren-Warbler
• Indian Tailor Bird
• Indian Magpie Robin
• Malabar Shama
• Indian Robin
• Pied Bush Chat
• Indian Grey Tit
• Yellow-Cheeked Tit Or Black-Lored Tit
• Indian Tree Pipit
• Indian Paddyfield Pipit
• Large Pied Wagtail Or White-Eyebrowed Wagtail
• Grey Wagtail
• Grey-Headed Yellow Wagtail
• White Wagtail
• Tickell's Flowerpecker
• Purple-Rumped Sunbird
• Purple Sunbird
• House Sparrow
• Indian Baya Weaver Bird
• White-Throated Munia
• Spotted Munia
• White-Backed Munia
• Blyth's Reed Warbler

Reptiles:

• King Cobra
• Bamboo Pit Viper
• Python
• Cobra
• Rat Snakes 

Attiveri Bird Sanctuary UPSC Questions

Q. At which district Attiveri Bird Sanctuary is located?/Attiveri Bird Sanctuary which district?

A. The Attiveri Bird Sanctuary is located in the Uttara Kannada district of the state of Karnataka, India.

Q. What is Attiveri Bird Sanctuary famous for?

A. The Attiveri Bird Sanctuary, located in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka, India, is famous for its rich avian biodiversity. It is primarily known for the following:

(i) Birdwatching: Attiveri Bird Sanctuary is a popular destination for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts. It attracts a wide variety of bird species, both migratory and resident, making it an excellent place for birdwatching.

(ii) Migratory Birds: During the migratory season, which typically spans from November to March, the sanctuary becomes a hotspot for migratory birds. These birds travel long distances and use the sanctuary as a stopover point, creating a spectacular sight for birdwatchers.

(iii) Diverse Bird Species: The sanctuary is home to a diverse range of bird species, including herons, egrets, storks, cormorants, ducks, kingfishers, and many more. It offers a unique opportunity to observe and study different bird behaviors and interactions.

(iv) Conservation: Attiveri Bird Sanctuary plays a vital role in the conservation of various bird species. It provides a protected habitat for these birds, contributing to their preservation and the overall biodiversity of the region.

(v) Natural Beauty: Besides its birdlife, the sanctuary is known for its natural beauty, including the Attiveri Reservoir and surrounding wetlands. The lush greenery and serene water bodies make it a picturesque destination.