Nithyananda Shetty Badyar and his wife Ramya, from Bantwal near Mangaluru, have been dedicated to bird conservation through their project ‘Gubbachi Goodu’ (Shelter for Birds) for the past eight years. In the last four years, they have expanded their efforts by distributing mud pots and bamboo bird feeders to homes and schools, along with conducting awareness programs.
Each year, the couple builds and distributes around 100 bird feeders, and to date, they have distributed 1,033 mud pots. Taking their initiative further, Nithyananda and Ramya are preparing for a Karnataka Yatra to identify and document the state’s bird diversity while continuing to promote bird conservation. This journey will begin this month and may extend for six months, with breaks in between.
Their project has received mixed responses. While some individuals show great interest, a few shopkeepers face opposition from neighbors who dislike frequent bird visits. However, North Karnataka has shown strong support, prompting the couple to expand their efforts. They have received positive feedback and regular updates from people using their bird feeders, particularly in Gadag, Hubballi, and Dharwad.
By the end of this month, the couple will have completed awareness programs in 300 schools, identifying several as environment-friendly. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, they traveled to Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir to document birds. They plan to travel across Karnataka with their children, three-year-old Nisarga and one-year-old Prakruti.
The couple has dedicated two acres of land for bird conservation, placing mud pots and providing nearly 5 kg of grains to birds daily. They also conduct ‘Pakshi Paata’ (Lessons on Birds) for small groups weekly.