Mysuru: Come monsoon and Virajpete and other pockets of Kodagu district turn into paradise for winged beauties.
The flock of gulls and other species of birds fly down to Napoklu, Virajpete and nearby areas during the monsoon and make majestically grown grand old trees in the vicinity their homes for a few months before they bid adieu to the hilly locales of Kodagu.
They chirp, fly high into clear blue skies, rest in the nest, cuddle up and care for their young ones, leaving behind smiles on the faces on the ones who spot them.
The locals who have been watching these migratory birds say that years ago, these guests used to prefer Napoklu region, but now for reason unknown, these winged beauties have shifted to Murnadu and other regions too. The kinship among these birds are very strong.
These birds usually come to Kodagu to lay eggs. Once the eggs are hatched, the birds brood their young ones for about a week or two. One of the parents remains with the young ones guarding them. Generally, the male ventures out to procure food, while the female stays put near the nest guarding the little ones.
While little brittle sticks and dry grasses are woven into a nest by the birds, they collect insects and worms and stock it up in the nest to feed the young ones.
During the monsoons, fruits, seeds, nuts and earthworms are usually the easy pick for these birds.
It is a lavish spectacle to watch the parent train the young one to live on its own. The intermittent cries of the young ones gradually fade out and they are all grown up in a matter of few weeks, ready to conquer the skies.
The flock of birds that arrive here during first week of June are all set to fly back to their homeland by November as larger flock, but with the promise to come back to Kodagu the next monsoon.
