The Bhadra Tiger reserve gets its name from River Bhadra, which flows through the forest. A dam was constructed on the river 1964 at Lakkavalli, mainly for irrigation and to cater to the demand for drinking water around the area. The reservoir has diverse aquatic life, like fish, crocodiles, Smooth-coated Otters, freshwater turtles, jellyfish and other reptiles and amphibians. The abundant presence of fish in the Bhadra reservoir attracts lot of birds that primarily feed on fish, like River Terns, cormorants, ibises, and raptors like Osprey, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Brahminy Kite and White-bellied Sea Eagle among others.

Working as a naturalist in this region has given me the access and opportunities to observe and learn more, especially about birds and reptiles. I am particularly interested in birds of prey and I like to photograph them and document their behaviour whenever I get a chance to do so.

There are four major fishing eagle and kites in Bhadra.

White-bellied Sea Eagle, Haliaeetus leucogaster

One of the largest birds of prey, the White-bellied Sea Eagle is commonly seen in coastal areas and is a visitor to fresh water lakes and rivers. Its body is completely white with dark or slate-grey back and wings. The primary diet of these birds comprises of fish, sea snakes, crabs and turtles. I’ve had the opportunity to see this bird up close in Bhadra.

Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Haliaeetus ichthyaetus

The Grey-headed Fish Eagle is the second largest fish eagle I have seen in Bhadra. These birds are common in the region and also breed here. They are rather bulky; adults are grey-brown with a pale brown head while the breast and neck are brown, and belly and tails are white. The main diet of these birds is fish but they occasionally prey on reptiles, terrestrial birds and small mammals too.

Osprey, Pandion haliaetus

The Osprey is a fish eagle that has one of the widest ranges in the world. It is believed to have been a winter migrant before, but Bhadra has had a resident population of these birds in the last few years. Ospreys are medium-sized raptors; the upper parts are deep, glossy brown, while the breast is white and sometimes streaked with brown, and the under parts are pure white. The head is white with a dark mask across the eyes, reaching to the sides of the neck. The main diet of these birds is fish.

Brahminy Kite, Haliastur indus

Brahminy Kite is a medium-sized kite and a resident at Bhadra. The adults have chestnut back, wings and belly. The head and breast have a contrasting white plumage. It has relatively short wings when compared to other kites. These birds mainly feed on dead fish, crabs and carrion. They also hunt and feed on live prey such as birds, small mammals, fish, reptiles and amphibians.

When you visit Bhadra Tiger Reserve, don’t forget to look out for these beautiful raptors while on a boat safari.