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A new documentary reveals little-known secrets of Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary
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FEATHERED TALES The filmmakers R.G. Srikantha and R.G. Jayarama and their snapshots from Ranganathittu
It is hard to find Bangaloreans who haven’t made a weekend trip to the Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary near Srirangapatna. Most will enjoy the sight of the crocodiles basking in the sun and the few visible birds. Nothing more is possible in the sh
ort boat ride. But now you can explore the beauty of the sanctuary and learn more about its unique inhabitants right in your living room.
R.G. Srikantha is an Assistant Superintendent at India Post in Mysore. But his passion since childhood has been photographing birds and wildlife. He along with his brother R.G. Jayarama, an accountant, have filmed a short documentary called “Ranganathittu – An Avian Haven” for the Forest Department.
Srikantha says he has grown up with the Cauvery very much a part of his everyday life. He decided to shoot the film because there were some moods that were impossible to express in still photographs. Ranganathittu has been a haunt of his since childhood.
The sanctuary is special because it is one the tiniest in the country, measuring just 0.67 square kilometres. It comprises six islets in a meandering portion of the Cauvery river. It is a favourite for migratory birds, and during the peak season is home to almost 24,000. To set apart time for the film, Srikantha shifted his work to the night shift and spent the entire day shooting. He says his proximity to the sanctuary made it possible for him to be there before sunrise.
Though an experienced still photographer, video was a new challenge for him, and the sanctuary itself posed some unique problems.
“The majority of shooting was done in the river. It was a learning experience as steady shots were difficult. The boat keeps rocking.
Also one cannot get into the water to stand and shoot because the depth is not even everywhere. I had to train the boatmen on how to stop boats without a shudder. Credit to them — they were very friendly and never got bored of me.”
The highlight of the film is the life of the Clay Swallow. The bird mines clay from the river bed and uses it to construct nests on the underside of rocks. It uses saliva to bond the clay and even uses twigs to reinforce the structure.
“Even in today’s engineering it is not possible,” says Srikantha.
Another rare sight is the river otters that inhabit the sanctuary. Tourists normally don’t get to see these shy creatures. Srikantha says it required special effort to track and film them.
He says he wanted to make the documentary three hours long but the Forest Department limited it to 40 minutes to make it viewer-friendly. He is now planning to do a series on every bird at the sanctuary.
“More people must go and see these species. Guides must be trained to more spend time with them and educate them. Probably then a few will take up the cause of conservation,” he says.
The film is available in DVD format. Copies are priced at Rs. 150.
Contact M.N. Jayakumar, Public Relations, Forest Department on 99451-78371.
ANAND SANKAR
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