Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary : A Window of Nature

Keoladeo Ghana National Bird Sanctuary : A Window of Nature

Govind Bhattacharjee

Named after Keoladeo (Shiva) whose temple lay within its boundaries, Keoladeo Ghana is a World Heritage Site declared by UNESCO in 1985 and one of the ‘Wetlands of International Importance’ under the International Convention on Wetlands held in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971 - the treaty that commits its member countries to maintain the ecological character of their identified wetlands, the Keoladev Ghana National Bird Sanctuary is a paradise for birders and nature lovers. A legally protected wetland under the Wildlife protection Act of 1972, the park is host to tousands of birds belonging to about four hundred species, resident as well as migratory. Covering an area of 29 sq kilometres and lying about 55 kms from Agra on the Delhi-Agra-Jaipur Golden Traingle for toursts, the park is located around the village of Bharatpur in Rajasthan.

Keoladeo Natioal Park glistening in the morning sunlight

The ecosystem of the park rich in biodiversity has within its boundary of woodlands, woodland swamps and fresh water swamp. It is a spectacular nesting sites of many species – egrets, herons, painted storks, cormorants, snake birds, pelicans and many others.

A surrreal morning landscape of Keoladeo

Large white egrets are one major attarction of the park. With a wing-span of about 5 feet covered in pristine white plumes, they live in colonies near the swamps and build large nests high up in the trees or near marshes, often in mixed colonies with other birds like herons, cormorants and ibises. They have long necks and long, black legs, allowing the birds a good view over tall grasses in the swamps. They have average lifespan of 15 years. They are expert hunters of fish and other aquatic creatures. Destruction of wetland by humans is a threat to their habitat and existence.

Wading, waiting, flaming white egret

White light descending on a translucent earth

Another attraction is the grey heron (top one below), and Keoladeo Ghana is a world famous site for

heronry. Herons are sociable birds that generally nest in long-established heronries. Standing more

than 3 feet with a wing span is around 6 feet, they are large, but weigh only up to 2 kilograms.

Herons also build their large nests on cliffs and bushes, even on reed beds. With their plumage of

grey and off-white, they look spectacular on the ground and in flight. They also come in purple

colours.

Wings that uplift and become one with the trees: The Grey Heron

Purple Heron

Rapture of flight and joy of freedom

A most conspicuous resident of the park is the painted stork. They are large wading birds that live

in large groups in shallow wetlands, feeding on fishes and frogs, and stand still after feeding for long

periods. The breed in nests built high up in trees, generally on the top of trees and on islands in the

wetland where they are less likely to be disturbed.

Waiting for Godot: Painted Storks

The other colonisers of the Park are the pelicans. They are large birds best known for their throat

pouches which they use to catch fish. They display group hunting behaviour – swimming together

in a line or curve and driving the fishes into shallow water where they catch them. They have

bodies up to 6 feet long that weigh up to 15 kilograms and have wingspans as long as 10 feet.

Glowing in an ethereal space: Pelicans

Snakebird, also called darter or anhinga, is a large water bird with a slender and long neck. It swims

almost completely submerged in water, with only the head and the neck popping above water. Darting

snakelike from side to side, it spears the fish. It has a wingspan of about 4 feet compared to its body

length of only 3 feet.

Unreality of a dream: Snakebird

Floating in the luminous light: Snakebird

Little blue kingfishers with their green-blue upper-parts and pale azure-blue back are of course there

to delight the tourists and nature lovers throughout the seasons.

Perched on the water’s edge and waiting for a lightning strike: Blue Kingfisher

Purple moorhens add to colour and variety in the park. The wetlands of the park are bordered with tall reeds and swamp grasses, an ideal environment to host these domestic hen

sized birds.

Rising in harmony and delight: Purple moorhens

And of course there is the tree pie, the long tailed chirpy birds that rarely alight on the ground.

And thus the Keoladeo Ghana Park- a beautiful island of peace and tranquility, far away from ‘the

madding crowd’s ignoble strife’ - extends its warm heart to all – the birds as well as the bird lovers.