For conservation of biodiversity and bird population especially Blue-Tailed Bee Eaters, Melapura Bee Eater Conservation Reserve was declared in 2015 as landscape approach. Bee Eaters are an important avian species relevant for maintaining the balance of our environment. It is migratory species of bird commonly found in the summer months in Karnataka. The unique and vulnerable nesting system of the elegant bird commands a special effort for its conservation.

Melapura Bee Eater Conservation Reserve is a wetland ecosystem consists of three riverine islands and adjacent riverbank (kharab) land situated in the Melapura village, Srirangapatna taluk of Mandya district. The Conservation Reserve is constituted on government lands which do not include any revenue villages, patta lands and leased lands on the date of publication of this reserve. The Islets are the main breeding ground for variety of local and migratory birds. The comparative isolation of the Islets during the monsoons and the abundance of aquatic insects and the swampy soil make Melapura a favorite home for many water birds. The loamy sand banks offer unique requirement for Blue Tailed Bee-Eater which make nests inside the soil burrows.

The soil along the river is soft and loamy, ideal for building of nest for honey bee eaters. The reserve is also surrounded by vast stretch of irrigated agricultural fields where aquatic insects are available in plenty. Abundance of these insects attracts numerous birds to the conservation reserves including bee eaters which are numerous.

The conservation reserve given a good  opportunity to create awareness among the public regarding wildlife to be specific in avifauna. It is a good example of riverine ecosystem. In addition to bee eater, presence of different species of fishes, and other residential and migratory birds provide an additional ecological significance. So, conservation reserve gives us the best model of landscape approach of conservation, where entire land scape and its dependent biodiversity components interplay freely.

For conservation of biodiversity and bird population especially Blue-Tailed Bee Eaters, Melapura Bee Eater Conservation Reserve was declared in 2015 as landscape approach. Bee Eaters are an important avian species relevant for maintaining the balance of our environment. It is migratory species of bird commonly found in the summer months in Karnataka. The unique and vulnerable nesting system of the elegant bird commands a special effort for its conservation.

Melapura Bee Eater Conservation Reserve is a wetland ecosystem consists of three riverine islands and adjacent riverbank (kharab) land situated in the Melapura village, Srirangapatna taluk of Mandya district. The Conservation Reserve is constituted on government lands which do not include any revenue villages, patta lands and leased lands on the date of publication of this reserve. The Islets are the main breeding ground for variety of local and migratory birds. The comparative isolation of the Islets during the monsoons and the abundance of aquatic insects and the swampy soil make Melapura a favorite home for many water birds. The loamy sand banks offer unique requirement for Blue Tailed Bee-Eater which make nests inside the soil burrows.

The soil along the river is soft and loamy, ideal for building of nest for honey bee eaters. The reserve is also surrounded by a vast stretch of irrigated agricultural fields where aquatic insects are available in plenty. Abundance of these insects attracts numerous birds to the conservation reserves including bee-eaters which are numerous.

The conservation reserve gives a good  opportunity to create awareness among the public regarding wildlife, specific in avifauna. It is a good example of a riverine ecosystem. In addition to bee eaters, the presence of different species of fishes, and other residential and migratory birds provide an additional ecological significance. So, conservation reserve gives us the best model of landscape approach of conservation, where the entire landscape and its dependent biodiversity components interplay freely.