By Deepa Natarajan LoboDespite a dry spell this monsoon, Bengaluru’s Ulsoor (Halasuru) Lake is teeming with life. Thanks to restoration efforts over the past few years, coupled with a few timely showers, the iconic waterbody has once again transformed into a thriving ecosystem. The biggest draw is the arrival of majestic Spot-billed Pelicans, now spending their days gliding across the lake, plunging into the water for fish and delighting walkers and passers-by.Just a few months ago, large stretches of the lake lay exposed as desilting and other restoration work was underway. Today, those waters are alive with nearly 50 Spot-billed Pelicans diving for fish, offering visitors a spectacular sight.Colonel Uday Sankeshwar (Retd.), who was part of the team that championed the lake’s restoration, credits the Madras Sappers’ long association with Ulsoor Lake, which once supplied water to the military. A Madras Sappers veteran himself, Uday says the transformation has been years in the making. Desilting, removing invasive weeds, improving water quality, separating idol immersion activities, and ensuring fresh inflows have gradually revived aquatic life.“Nature heals and responds when you give it a chance. As the fish returned, the pelicans followed,” he says.Having walked around Ulsoor Lake for years, Uday believes the birds are among the strongest indicators of the lake’s recovery.“Earlier, it was mostly scavenger birds because the water quality had deteriorated with dead fish and decaying organic matter. Today, seeing pelicans fishing here is nature’s way of saying thank you. It’s a clear sign that the ecosystem is recovering,” he observes.While the pelicans are the biggest attraction at the moment, they are far from the lake’s only avian residents. Kingfishers, egrets and several other waterbirds continue to thrive here, reflecting the improving health of the waterbody.“You respect the environment, and the environment respects you back. These birds are telling us we’re moving in the right direction,” Uday sums up.
