Kokkare Belluru

This is 18 kms northwest to the taluk centre Madduru and referred in ancient inscriptions as ‘Belluru, Beluru, Chikkabeluru’ which was a part of Kalalenadu. From the last five decades the place is famous as a bird sanctuary because of its intimate contact with Crane bird called ‘Kokkare’. The crane birds migrate from different parts of the world during the period from January to July, construct their nests and settle on trees like /tamarind, Gobbali at the middle of the village. After hatching the eggs, return to their homeland. Hence, the village obtained a surname Kokkare attached to its name Belluru and has become a natural bird sanctuary. One can see numerous crane birds on the trees of the village as well as many more on the skyline. They have different colour in their beak, neck, feet and feathers; some of them are light red, some are light black and many are white. Every year in and around Sankranti festival (January) the Pelicans (Hejjarle) and white birds (Bellakki) migrate to this place, built nests, hatch eggs and then return to their Homelands before the rainy season (July), similar to a woman returning from her parents’ house with grown up children.