Bird Sanctuatries > Bharatpur - by Anil Benipuri

Keoladeo Ghana National Park - Bharatpur--

The Golden Backed Woodpecker’s call is a loud chattering laugh uttered mostly on the wing.

Painted Storks nest in large numbers at Bharatpur often sharing the heronry with egrets, white ibises, openbilled storks etc.

Cormorants live exclusively on fish. Flocks occassionally hunt in concert. They are excellent divers and submarine swimmers.

176 km from Delhi the 29 sqkm lake and wetland now known as the Keoladeo Ghana National Park was artificially created by the Maharaja Suraj Mal of Bharatpur in the 18th century. By building small dykes and dams diverting water from the Banganga and the Gambhir rivers , he converted this low lying area into a waterfowl shooting preserve. Subsequent monsoons contributed by flooding and inundating the surrounding region creating a habitat for a large variety of birds. Commonly referred to as Bharatpur, the park is a delight for bird watchers. Over 300 species of birds are found here and raised paths, camouflaged by babul trees and undergrowth make easy viewing. Vehicles are not allowed inside the park. Bicycles and rickshaws for getting around the park, binoculars, bird books, guides and even ornithologists can all be hired for very nominal fees. A quiet ride by boat in the early hours of the morning is also an unforgettable experience though failing monsoons will almost surely kill the place. One can see that most of the park now consists of dry grass land and if steps are not taken to do something the park will die. Every year Bharatpur waits with bated breath for the arrival of the Siberian cranes. There are only two wintering places for this rare species—one in Iran and the other in Bharatpur. These beautiful birds with their distinctive red beaks and facial patches, fly over 6400 km from their summer retreats in Siberia to get to Bharatpur.
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