Bird Watching in India

Bird Watching Season in India : October to March

One of the best ways of relieving stress is indulging in bird watching. The peace and tranquility of the environs, combined with the beauty of the birds, is enough to take away all types of tensions from your mind. What better place to enjoy bird watching, than the Indian subcontinent? The sheer number as well as the variety of bird species found here will make you fall in love with the place. The rich diversity of birds is the result of the varied topography of the country. The best season for bird watching in the Indian subcontinent is from October to March.

Bird watching in India is a completely satisfying and exhilarating experience. One can see the birds in their natural habitat, mingling easily amongst themselves. Of the numerous wildlife sanctuaries boasting of a rich variety of birds, the most popular ones include Keoladeo Ghana National Park, Corbett National Park, Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary, Sultanpur National Park and the Valley of Flowers. The Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve also holds the distinction of having some of the most exotic species of birds.

Birding Tips

• First things first, do a complete research on the place where you are going for bird watching and the bird species found there. Now, gather all the information about those bird species - their features, songs, calls, color, etc.
• Make sure to carry a good pair of binoculars with you. It is advisable to practice a little with the binoculars before actually using them.
• It is better to search for the birds with the naked eye first. Use of binoculars narrows down the field of vision to quite an extent, making it difficult to spot birds.
• Light reflections as well as shadows often lead to a distortion of the colors of the birds. It is better to first consider other factors while determining the bird species.
• It is very difficult to correctly judge the size of the birds, especially when they are flying. Basing the identification of birds on the size can be misleading.
• Observe the distinguishable features of the bird first of all. Features like bill, legs, etc, can be quite helpful in identification.
• Even the behavior of the birds, like climbing a tree trunk, swimming, etc, can provide vital clues that may lead to correct determination of the birds.
• Pay due attention to the songs and calls of the birds. They serve as an excellent way of identifying them.
• Services of a good field guide are always useful, as they have much knowledge about birds, their features as well as their calls.

• Do not make noise while watching the birds. You are visiting the national park/sanctuary for watching the birds, not disturbing them.
• You need to be extra careful in case you are going for bird watching during the breeding season of the birds.
• Never ever touch the eggs of the birds and do not even venture around the nest for too long.
• Birdcalls should never be used for attracting the birds. It causes unnecessary confusion and disturbance amongst them.
• Follow all the rules as well as the instructions given at the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
• Do not litter while inside the park/sanctuary. It is advisable to carry the trash back with you and put it in a rubbish bin.

• Keoladeo National Park - Bharatpur, Rajasthan
• Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary - Kottayam, Kerala
• Thattekad Bird Sanctuary - Kothamangalam, Kerala
• Sultanpur National Park - Sultanpur, Haryana
• Valley of Flowers - Chamoli District, Uttaranchal
• Kaundinya Bird Sanctuary - Chittor, Andhra Pradesh
• Kawal Sanctuary - Mancherial, Andhra Pradesh
• Kinnerasani Sanctuary - Khammam District, Andhra Pradesh
• Kolleru Bird Sanctuary - Vijayawada, West Godavari
• Manjira Bird Sanctuary - Medak District, Andhra Pradesh
• Neelapattu Bird Sanctuary - Chennai, Andhra Pradesh
• Rollapadu Bird Sanctuary - Nandikotkuru, Andhra Pradesh
• Sonai Rupai Sanctuary - Sonitpur District
• Flamingo Colony - Khavda, Gujarat
• Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary - Ahmedabad, Gujarat
• Porbandar Bird Sanctuary - Porbandar, Gujarat
• Velvadar Bird Sanctuary - Bhavnagar, Gujarat
• Overa Wildlife Sanctuary - Pahalgam, Jammu, Kashmir
• Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary - Mysore, Karnataka
• Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary - Kozhikode, Kerala
• Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary - Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh