MANGALORE: Minister for tourism RV Deshpande inaugurated state’s biggest Walk Through Bird Aviary set up at Dr Shivarama Karantha Biological Park, Pilikula Nisargadha on Friday.

The aviary, which was developed in 25,000 sqft area at a cost of about Rs 40 lakh, is expected to attract large number of visitors in the days to come. The 200-ft-long, 50-ft-high and 150-ft-wide aviary has been built and covered with a dome-shaped chain-link mesh. People may walk on the aviary and have closer view of large variety of rarest birds.

The aviary comprises of large ponds and waterfall, running stream and fruit plants that will add beauty of the tourism spot. While birds will flying and moving around the aviary freely, visitors will be able to have close view from the pathway. The aviary will have non-predator bird species, primarily from the Western Ghats. Aquatic birds like pelican, cormorant, egret, whistling teals, heron, ibis and ducks will be brought to the aviary.

Similarly, various other bird species including quails, pheasants, crakes, lapwings, woodpeckers, barbets, orioles, bulbuls, babblers, flycatchers, drongo, mynah, magpie, lora, doves, pigeons, parakeets, cuckoos, swifts, kingfishers, bee eaters, hornbills, sunbirds and sparrows will also be added to attract bird lovers, park authorities said.

Minister Deshpande inaugurated the aviary in the presence of B Ramanatha Rao and Mangalore City South MLA JR Lobo.

Courtesy: Times of India