You can witness the seasonal congregation of birds on a tiny island in the mid-course of the Tunga river at Mandagadde village, 30 km from Shimoga on the Shimoga-Theerthahalli road. Three species of birds regularly visit the island with the advent of the monsoons and stay on till the end of September: The median egret, the little cormorant, and the darter. During the peak season in August, the total number of birds in the sanctuary is estimated at 5000. A watchtower has been erected for viewing the winged visitors. The annual visits of these birds have put this obscure village on the wildlife map.