Bird watching in India is a pleasurable experience. Get more information on Indian birdwatching.
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.
Precautions to be followed while Bird Watching
- 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.
The following wildlife sanctuaries and national parks
are the best places for birdwatching in India:
- 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
So, guys, what are you waiting for? Just take out
your camera, load the film and get ready to have the best experience of
your life. Happy Shooting!
