Location :
About 16 km from Mysore in Karnataka, the river Kaveri splits into two and rejoins, forming the island of Srirangapatna. This historical town was the erstwhile fort of Tipu Sultan from where he held forth against the British. The temple of Lord Ranganatha is of hallowed fame. A little way outside the town a bunch of islands in the river are a natural refuge to scores of species of water birds that flock here every year to nest. Boating out into the crocodile-filled waters can take you exhilaratingly close to the birds ... 
Outside the sanctuary, the Kaveri is little more than a stream gurgling over rocks and winding through meadowy plateaus. You can splash across the river while observing terns fishing, eagles soaring overhead and little families of ducks paddling in the shallows. Ashy wren-warblers were very vocal at springtime, singing in a spirited manner from tops of bushes. An ashy-crowned finch-lark was observed collecting dried grass and arranging it in the beginnings of a nest under a small rock. 

Best time to visit: June - October

Distance from Bangalore: 125 kms

More about Ranganthittu:
Ranganthittu treats you to some glorious sights and surprises. A basket of visual delights - Crocodiles basking under the sun, otters running free, flocks of birds gathered on tiny islands.. and the excitement continues. Wherever you turn, you will find exotic birds. Birds all the way from Siberia, Australia, and even North America. 
So when you are on the can boats just be ready for a fluttering surprise. It may be the open-bill stork the white ibis, egret heron, partridge or even the cormorant trying to say hello.

A day's birding in and around Ranganthittu showed us these birds in March 1999:
Nesting water birds:

1. Painted Stork

2. Openbill Stork

3. Little Cormorant

4. Darter

5. Spoonbill

6. White Ibis

7. Purple Heron

8. Little Egret

9. Pond Heron

10. Night Heron

Others:

1. Great Stone Plover

2. River Tern

3. Little Blue Kingfisher

4. Pied Kingfisher 

5. Cattle Egret 

6. White-breasted Water-hen 

Land birds: 

1. Common Myna 

2. Jungle Myna 

3. Rosy Pastor

4. Ashy Wren-warbler 

5. Spotted Fantail

6. Tickell's Blue Flycatcher

Outside the Sanctuary: 

1. Common Grey Hornbill

2. Little Brown Dove 

3. Ashy-crowned Finch-lark 

4. Hoopoe 

5. Brahminy Myna 

6. Brown Crake

7. Spot-billed Duck

8. Brown-headed Gull 

9. Osprey