VISAKHAPATNAM: Come September and it's nesting time for migratory birds from Scandinavian countries that flock the bird sanctuaries of Telineelapuram and Telekunchi on the Andhra-Odisha border. But October-November is also the time for cyclones to come calling on this part of the coast.

Keeping in mind the havoc that cyclone Phailin played on the Andhra-Odisha coast last year, destroying precious flora and fauna, an animal welfare organisation from the city the Visakha Society for Care and Protection of Animals (VSPCA) has launched a programme called 'Kindness Skies'.

The bird sanctuaries of Telineelapuram and Telekunchi situated in Srikakulam and Icchapuram (bordering Odisha), respectively, see 10,000-15,000 winged visitors from the cold European countries during this season from September to April. VSPCA is now concentrating on protecting the birds from cyclones and poaching through the ?Kindness Skies' programme.

The main avian species that frequent the spots are Asian Open Billed Storks, Egrets and Pelicans.

Elaborating on the initiative, Pradeep Nath, founder, VSPCA, said, "Last year, due to the havoc wreaked by cyclonic storms, several trees had fallen in the area across hundreds of acres injuring or killing the birds and destroying their nesting place. So, this time, we have decided to take some precautions beforehand. We are hiring some small rooms and facilities in the vicinity of the sanctuaries to house the injured birds. Avian experts would also be brought from Bangalore to treat the birds and study their nesting, breeding and feeding habits. We have also kept a couple of our people to check poaching and are seeking the help of the local panchayat and forest department in protecting the migratory birds."

"We have also requested the forest department to declare the two sanctuaries as protected areas to ensure that birds are protected by the government with the help of local communities. This will also ensure that tourists don't litter the place with plastic and the forest department helps in plantation for facilitating nesting of the birds," he added.

Moreover, another unique project ?Kindness Mobile' has also been taken up by the society for feeding homeless people and their ?stray pets' in the city. Under this programme, several small vans and auto-rickshaws have been roped in to double up as mobile restaurants. These vehicles carry vegetarian food items and distribute them to the homeless, old and abandoned people who stay on footpaths and railway stations.

"We have noticed that these lonely, forsaken people often have a stray dog for company. And whatever food they collect, they first offer it to their four-legged companions. Simultaneously, stray animals' birth control programme is also on. We found the need for rehabilitating such stray animals after their sterilisation. So, through ?Kindness Mobile,' we are reaching out to both, these forsaken people and stray dogs by distributing food. Several auto-rickshaw drivers are also volunteering to drive the ?mobile restaurants'. By January 2015, we hope to have 100 such vehicles on the road," said Nath.

