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It is a bit uncommon to listen to terms such as tweets (not the social media one), songs (not from the smart phone), or kingfisher (not the one which is in news) when a reporter enters the premises of New Mangalore port for news articles. But that is exactly what is being heard now.
The entire 2,300 acres of the New Mangalore port is not only about cargo; it is also a bird sanctuary of sorts.
T.S.N. Murthy, Deputy Chairman of New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT), says he has seen around 150 species of various birds in the NMP locality. Explaining the locations of these birds to this reporter, he says, “I know all of them. Where they are staying and how they are staying.” He locates the nest of ‘Brahminy Kite' bird near the house of the Chairman of NMPT, and another nest near one of engineers' houses.
Many of us have only seen one particular breed of the kingfisher. However, Murthy identifies five species of them in the NMP premises.
Bird activity
According to him, the maximum activities of birds take place in the morning between 6 a.m. and 8.30 a.m. Some birds are active during the evening time. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., all arboreal birds — which hide in the leaves of the trees — frequent the area.
Some birds such as the ‘common heron' and ‘magpies robin' go along with the cattle.
Curiously, I ask how he managed to track them. For this, Murthy says he knows which bird is calling, and from where it is calling and what time it is calling while he walks in a locality in the NMP premises.
Giving the example of ‘magpie robin,' he says the bird produces six sounds at a stretch. So, accordingly, you know in that vicinity that particular bird will come. Stating that he has seen the nook and corner of the 2,300-acre NMPT, he says each bird has its own movement.
Wait and watch
Each bird has the habit of coming to its particular place again and again. “So you have to wait and watch,” he says.
P. Tamilvanan, Chairman, says the port area by natural choice is the heaven for ‘aviation angels.' This year, their annual calendar made an attempt to highlight the beautiful, colourful, and captivating jewels of NMPT, he adds.
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