The wintering destination !!!

Winter season. The mountains covered with the snow. White background, freezing temperatures, layers of jackets , playing with the snow , snow burns and various activities are an experience to remember . Google maps, insta photos , social media become the major source of information of popular destinations , while bus, trains, personal vehicles become the source of travel . Solo tours, family tours , friend tours, group trips , form the companion for travel  

The same winter season , for the birds , is a period to escape the harsh chillness of these mountains . It is the nature that guide them , and the presence of  food that is vital. The only way for them to travel is depending on their own body fat , wings  and their own group form the companions for travel

Towns that would normally form part of a highway passing through , would suddenly spring into life on arrivals of such winged beauties . Quaint and tiny these towns would have escaped the notice on the highway atlas , or even when passing through , or may be a silent on the road bus stop , in case of a bus journey . But for these winged visitors, these towns are the residence, with in-house accommodation , play areas , chatting points, growing points , till the end of the winter season

One such town, on the Gadag- Laxmeshwar highway in Karnataka , is Magadikere . The non descript town is a very small town on the highway , as a NWKRTC bus stops by to pick up the few passengers from the highway . A lake stands few metres away from the highway , just slightly away from the dust and the pollution of the highway and its vehicles

Every year , between November to March , this lake forms the home to the bird , that has earned the record as on of the world’s “highest fliers” . Tagged records , indicate that these birds , that have nesting records only at Ladakh in India , nests majorly in the cold regions of the Tibet, Mongolia, Kazhaksthan and Russia . These birds , fly across the Himalayan mountains , and burn their cholesterol weight in the process, as they fly past these mountain region in the “V” formation .  The recorded flying height of 29000 feet , earned them as one of the highest flier tag These are the “Bar – headed” Geese , the name that they have received , because of the formation of 2 lines across their foreheads


Magadikere , in the deccan plateau of peninsular India , is one such location , chosen by these birds as their winter location . The groundnut fields in the nearby villages of this lake, form the major part of diet for these birds . The lake forms a safe location , the water is a refreshing coolant , and the trees a safe nesting location . The forest office located close, provides a feel of comfortable security for these birds

An early morning visit on Christmas , saw us spotting the birds from far against the rising sun , the birds having exiting the lake around 6AM. The leader just gave out a quack and behind them was the group following their leader .  One, two, three , the groups just went off for their breakfast . Could just make out the shiloutte of these birds , as the morning sun was not very clear . The main lake wasn’t yet opened, it would be opened around 8AM , informed the security at the lake



The December afternoon sun on the Christmas day , is slightly harsh and pretty dry , as we enter into the lake post our lunch session . A pied kingfisher looks at us from above the electric wire , welcoming us to the lake .  The local buffaloes beat the harsh winter soaking in the lake waters at the entrance , as group of washer women go about on their afternoon chores . The lake was filled with white particles across , glittering in the afternoon sun , which could be mistaken for the foam of the clothes . Closer examination revealed that they were our guests . whom we had missed in the morning .

The birds that had left for the morning breakfast were now back . The lake was filled to the brim , by these winter visitors, as we made our way to the forest office and the watch tower . They had found a way to beat the winter sun , by staying in the cool waters . The sounds of the quacks filled the air , echoing across the lake . Groups & groups of these birds stayed thorugh the lake , swimming and chatting

Walked around the lake , towards the forest office and the watch tower. The sounds of the regular birds like Mynah, parakeets , wagtails , swallows, went unheard in the din of the bar headed geese .

Group of localites had made their way to the lake , to spend the winter afternoon, along with few bird watching groups . The local children hadn’t yet got exposed much to visitors and were surprised to see the binoculars in our hand . Mistaking it to be a camera , we were asked to take snaps, before we explained to them that it was only for viewing and not for capturing . Seeing the bar headed at close range through it gave them a different sort of excitement

The forest officers had set of binoculars for the spotting of these birds , which they had rented to us. The board next to the forest office indicated the comparision height of various birds , along with the flight .  Average height of the flight was mentioned in the 4^th position , with the bar headed geese occupying the 3rd at around 29000 feet .


The steep flight of steps led us to the top of the watch tower and the site was a behold to watch. Each and every inch, corner space ,  island shores , tree shades were filled up with the line up of these birds , enjoying their vacation. The birds would again leave the cool waters by around 4PM for their evening snack, returning back around dusk for their sleep .

The forest department book gave an estimate of 6000-7000 for tat day . The initial starting days of the season started with about 600 birds , and then went down to 300, before again building up . The birds came to explore the place , found it safe and then went to get their families, was the prompt reply. Though they come every year , safety is first for them and they do not settle completely unless they find the place safe .

A small set of demoiselle crane was in the list maintained by the guard , but the same could not be found . It came 2 days back , but it could not stand the crowd of these geese . So it has shifted to a new residence about 5 kms away. Thought of visiting the same, but the security guard stopped us . Not much of use , he felt, for it would have changed location due to non availability of food. It hasnt settled yet .

A lone bar headed geese for standing near the forest office . The bird was feeling sick , and it headed out of the lake to the forest office , where it felt it could be safe . The birds rely on humans , when it feels insecure . But shy that it was, the presence of new humans around , made it move to a corner and hide . It relies only on the forest guard who feed it , not visitors . Atleast it still trusts humans

Migration , is a yearly phenomenon , and how they manage to do that every year , finding their way , is seriously a fascinating fact . No googlemaps , no landmarks , fear of predators , no transport, no tickets and above all no passport and no office leave requests . Staying with nature , living on their  natural body and foods , and travel becomes a pretty easy affair . The wing feathers do have their wear and tear , and they wither and moult again , well in time to gain the strength for them to undertake the long journey again in March , when the deccan plateau will perspire in the summer heat .


Location :
Magadikere – Located about 25 kms South of Gadag on the Gadag Laxmeshwar highway . Gadag forms the nearsest town for accommodation and food. The lake is located just few metres off the main road and regular NWKRTC buses available on the highway from Gadag stopping pretty close to the lake .