bird watching in india

Bird watching is an obsession with wildlife enthusiasts. However, a lay man can also enjoy watching exotic and rare birds. So just arm yourself with binoculars, telescopes, and cameras as well as a field guide for identification of the birds and proceed towards India. India is a heaven for bird lovers. It offers an astounding variety of habitats for birds such as Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary and Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary in Rajasthan as well as the famous Corbett National Park in Uttranchal. Many migrating birds such as the Siberian Cranes are drawn to the wide-open spaces of the Bharatpur sanctuary and other sanctuaries in India. The Indian subcontinent is home to more than 2000 species of birds, each one of them unique and different from the other. This provides unmatched opportunities to view innumerable species of birds in natural settings

Among the most famous bird sanctuaries in India, the Keoladeo Ghana National Park in Bharatpur, the Corbett National Park and the Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary are also part of Project Tiger. These sanctuaries offer wide variety of bird species. Here one can watch countless birds in their natural habitat. Best Bird Watching Season: October to March is the most ideal time to visit India for bird watching. Equipment required for Bird watching: Binoculars, Telescopes and Cameras.Major Bird Sanctuaries in India

Keoladeo Ghana National Park, Bharatpur

Keoladeo Ghana National Park, one of India's pioneer wildlife conservation centers, spread over an area of 30 square km of marshy swamp, kadam forests, woodland and shallow lakes, the sanctuary offers habitat to both nesting indigenous birds as well as migratory water birds. A surprising number of more than 330 species of birds have been spotted and identified in the sanctuary.

The Siberian Crane, the finest and rarest of migratory birds, are the cynosure of this sanctuary and are regular visitors. Sometimes called 'The Lily Bird' in India and the 'Snow Wreath' in Russia, the Siberian Crane is believed to have existed in this world for over one million years. However it is of great concern that only 125 pairs of these pure white, crimson-billed cranes are estimated to survive worldwide. Keoladeo Ghana National Park is an ideal place for pelicans, storks, herons, egrets and kingfishers. Breeding females stay in peaceful co-existence and it is of no surprise that one tree can have nests of different birds. The sanctuary is known as the best breeding ground for more than a thousand species of birds. Migratory birds start arriving in the month of October include a variety of Geese, Ducks, Raptors, Geese, Warblers and Waders.

Corbett National Park

Apart from being home to the tiger, Corbett National Park is also noted for bird watching. Considered to be one of the best bird watching sites in the world, the park is home to some 600 species of birds. This number exceeds the total number of bird species found in Europe and is about one fourth of the diversity found in India. Out of the 69 species of Raptors found in India, 49 can be seen in Corbett. Spread over an area of 520 sq km, the Corbett National Park is a hot destination for bird-watchers. Bird-watchers from across the world come to Corbett National Park treat their eyes with sights of colorful birds.

Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary

Extending over an area of 800 sq km, the Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the hilly forest of the Aravalli ranges in the state of Rajasthan. It provides habitat to more than 200 species of birds including the Gray Hornbill, Crested Serpent Eagle, Black/Red Headed Bunting, Wryneck Woodpecker Babbler, White Breasted Kingfisher, Little Brown Dove, Small Minivet, Golden Oriole, Great Gray Shrike, Pale Harrier and Tailor Bird, the list goes on. An example of typical dry deciduous forest, the sanctuary remains lush green during the monsoons and dry during rest of the year.

Other sanctuaries in India

Chillka lake, Orissa; Bandipur National Park, Karnataka; Bandhavgarh National Park, Rajasthan; Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh; Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan; Kaziranga National Park, Assam; Manas National Park, Assam; Sultanpur National Park, Haryana; Sundarbans Wildlife Ssanctuary, West Bengal; Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujrat.