Migratory birds arrive in Haryana from Europe, Central Asia before onset of winter

At locations such as Sultanpur National Park, Bhindawas Bird Sanctuary, Dighal, and Basai, birders have spotted European Roller, Rosy Starling, Western Crowned Warbler and White-eyed Buzzards.

Popular birding sites in Haryana have begun to see the arrival of winter migratory birds, with various avian species flying in from colder regions of Europe and Central Asia.

European roller (VIKRAM BATRA)

At locations such as Sultanpur National Park, Bhindawas Bird Sanctuary, Dighal, and Basai, birders have spotted European Roller, Rosy Starling, Western Crowned Warbler and White-eyed Buzzards.

Ruff (Shellender Rao)

Though the Sultanpur National Park is currently closed, it will reopen for visitors on October 1 after a gap of five months. Birders have been flocking to the other locations to get a glimpse of these exotic avian species.

Abhishek Gulshan, a birder and nature educator from Delhi, said that winter migrants have begun to arrive in the region sooner than expected. “It’s hard to say why exactly this is happening, but widespread changes in climatic conditions is one reason. These changes also affect breeding patterns and availability of food, which in turn, affect the migratory patterns of birds.” However, birders said though the migratory birds have started arriving, most will fly in by September and October.

According to state forest officials, at least 37 species of migratory birds have arrived in Haryana, a number that is reported to be higher than the 20 species spotted during the same period, in the last three years. “As Gurugram has received good rainfall this year, the number of migratory birds is bound to be more. They have begun to arrive early. We also have a portal on which we upload the pictures and names of the migratory birds sighted by us,” Pankaj Gupta, a birder from Delhi, said.

At the 359-acre Sultanpur National Park, there are currently around 130 species of birds, including migratory species. There are around 3,000 birds in the park, including 25 species of water birds. “There are nearly 80-90 resident birds and the migratory birds have already started arriving. Hence, the number of avian species sighted here has already gone up to 130 in August,” Vinod Kumar, the additional principal chief conservator of forests, Gurugram said. From 2010 to 2016, the forest department used to close the Sultanpur National Park for three months. But since 2016, the forest department has been closing it for four to five months, starting May.

Black-tailed godwit (Shellender Rao)

It will reopen on October 1. People can visit the park between 6.30am and 4.30pm. “These four months are the breeding period for resident birds and they should not be disturbed, ” Kumar said.