The Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary is a famous breeding and nesting ground for thousands of bird species from all parts of the world. Located some 4 Km from Srirangapatna and 19 Km from Mysore, this sanctuary in the southern Indian state of Karnataka is named after Sri RanganathaSwamy, an incarnation of Hindu God Vishnu. Stretching over an area of 40 acres, it’s basically an island on the Cauvery River.
A bird sanctuary since 1940, Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary has six islands and witness the arrival of rare and exotic birds from all parts of the globe. A big number of migratory birds come here from places as far off as Australia, Siberia and North America. The birds arrive here in the month of December every year (when the breeding starts) and migrate back in August.
The Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary is home to a big variety of mammals and migratory birds including Bonnet Macaque, Flying Fox, Indian Gray Mongoose, Civet and the monitor lizard. Some of famous migratory birds here include Painted Stork, Common Spoonbill, Black-headed Ibis, White Ibis, and Lesser Whistling Duck etc. Visitors to this sanctuary can avail ranger-guided boat tours and relish the bird watching.