Kaggaladu

Kaggaladu is a bird sanctuary in Sira Taluk spread across farmland dotted with tamarind trees that provide shelter and nesting sites. The trees form an open network of branches where hundreds of painted storks and grey herons build nests and raise young from February through August.

The sanctuary was discovered and documented by the Wildlife Aware Nature Club in 1999, leading to recognition as South Asia's second-largest nesting site for painted storks. This discovery brought attention to the location and helped establish its importance for bird conservation in the region.

The village community views the tamarind trees as shared space where birds thrive, and sees nesting activity as a sign of good land health. This relationship between people and birds shapes how the area is valued and protected each season.

The location sits about 130 kilometers from Bangalore and is reachable via the Bangalore-Pune Highway, with Sira as the nearest main town. Visitors should plan their visit between February and August when nesting activity peaks and bird watching opportunities are best.

The sanctuary operates without formal entrance fees or ticketing systems, allowing visitors to observe painted storks raising their young in the village setting freely. This openness means encountering hundreds of nesting birds happens naturally as you walk through the farmland.