When you head to any of the wildlife sanctuaries in India you are going to hear and see a huge number of birds, such as the blue hornbill bird and more. India is one of the best destinations for bird lovers, photographers and bird experts and there are a lot of bird sanctuaries to visit. With more than 1250 species of avifauna and then hundreds of species that migrate there each year, India is a significant place. Whether you are looking for some kind of wildlife tour that includes birds or want to focus specifically on birds you have come to the right place. Here are five of the top bird sanctuaries you might explore.
Place you must check out!
Here are four Indian bird sanctuaries to add to your list of must-find places.
- Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary – Also called the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary it is one of the oldest bird sanctuaries you can find in the country having been established about 250 years ago! You can find more than 250 species of birds including Northern Shovelers, Siberian cranes, Kingfishers, Ruddy Shelducks, Coots, Tufted Ducks, Gulls, Northern Pintails, Common Pochard and Garganey. Made a protected sanctuary in the early 1970s it is also a World Heritage Site. It lies in Bharatpur, Rajasthan and is close to Mathura and Agra. Visitors head there throughout the year and it is the perfect place for bird lovers, nature lovers and ornithologists to go. You can enjoy a stay over in one of the very attractive lodges and hotels close by if you want to do more than a day trip, such as the Chandra Mahal Haveli, the Bagh resort, The Bharatpur Forest Resort or the Laxmi Vilas Palace.
- Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary – Also called the Vembanad Bird Sanctuary this beautiful place found in Kottayam, Kerala is a compelling place to head to if you want to see local and migratory birds species. It spreads across 14 acres on the south bank of the Kavaner River and just some of the species you find include cuckoos, waterfowl, heron, owl, ducks, kites, egret, cormorant, darter, moorhen, lark, Siberian crane, flycatcher, parrot, lark and teal.
- Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary – Also called the green lung of Kerala because of the mangroves and flora that fills it, this bird sanctuary in Ernakulam, Kochi, Kerala is a much admired and visited place. Both migratory and resident birds like the blue hornbill bird, the Little Cormorant, and the Black-crowned Night heron. The best nesting time to visit are the months of May, June and July. For the most comfortable time in terms of heat visit from mid-January to mid-March.
- Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary – The Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary is just 33kms from Tirunelveli in Nanguneri Taluk and is south of the city Tamil Nadu. it receives thousands of migrating birds from various countries including the US, Australia, Pakistan, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka in the month from January to April. This is the best time to visit. Both migrant and native birds can be enjoyed from Kingfishers and herons to Painted Storks and Egrets.
