Gurgaon: Winged visitors start arriving at Sultanpur National Park

The ducks, waders, terns, raptors and other species of migratory birds have started arriving at the Sultanpur National Park, located 15km from Gurgaon.

It is that time of the year when residents of Gurgaon get ready to receive some very special guests who stay for the duration of the chilly months before heading back to their respective homes.

Whiskered tern, which hails from the warmer parts of Europe and Asia, are among the earl;y birds at Sultanpur National Park this year.

The ducks, waders, terns, raptors and other species of migratory birds have started arriving at the Sultanpur National Park, located 15km from the city.

Soon, the park is expected to be flooded with more than 30,000 birds from different parts of the world.

The park currently has around 60 species of migratory birds. “The process of migration has started and will take a month more for it to be in full swing. Birds that have to cover a longer distance have already started their journey,” Shyam Sunder Kaushik, divisional forest officer (wildlife), Gurgaon, said.

Some of the birds that have been spotted by birds at the park include Tickell’s leaf warbler, water pipit, jack snipe and spotted crake.

“We have also spotted song thrush, Tickell’s blue flycatcher, Marshall’s iora and grasshopper warbler,” said Kaushik.

The park is ready to welcome the arrival of birds that have travelled a long distance. Birds such as the Eurasian coot and shank were the first to arrive at the park, wildlife officials said.

As the region gets colder, the park will see the gadwall, mallard, ruddy shelduck and common pochard arriving. “We have replenished the park water bodies with ample quantities of fish in July itself. Breeding of some birds is synchronized with influx of fish in the water body. The park also has small mounds for water birds and special attention has been given to ensure adequate aquatic vegetation,” Vinod Kumar, conservator of wildlife, south Haryana, said.