Malyadi Bird Sanctuary is an abandoned clay query 9 kms away (1.5 kms from Thekkatte, NH 66) from Kundapura. It is a about 1.5 sq.kms area inhabited by water birds on the swampy land created by collected rain water in the left over clay fields. The so called sanctuary is actually just a bunch of farms and marshlands.
Malyadi is one of the few places in Udupi District, where one can see the large congregations of birds, particularly during the summer months. The number of migratory birds visiting this spot has increased in the last few years. The whistling teals are found in hundreds and purple moorhens are also quite abundant.
Malyadi used to receive 41 species of birds out of which 15 were migratory bird species. Whistling teals, purple moor hen, white ibis, comb duck (also called Nakta), carmorants and darters were some of the birds that were found in Malyadi in abundance.
The flora and fauna differs from what is found locally. This may be one of the reasons for the birds showing interest here. You can see migratory birds coming here during the winter time and leave before the first monsoon rains.
One can see numerous birds here. To name a few – Whistiling Teals, Purple Moorhen, White Ibis, Comb duck, Carmorants and Darters.