Haryana

• 07 Feb 2022

About 28,000 Migratory Birds of 124 Species Sighted in Sultanpur National Park

Why in News

• Recently, Haryana's Sultanpur National Park (Wildlife) Inspector Rajesh Chahal told that 28,026 migratory birds have selected the National Park (Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary) located in Sultanpur village of Gurugram for nesting this winter.

Key Points

• He informed that 124 bird species have already come here, while Greater Spotted Eagle, Red Headed Falcon, Imperial Eagle, Common Kestrel, White Tailed Lapwing, Black Tailed Godwit have been sighted here after many years.
• Haryana Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) ML Rajvanshi informed that India is one of the most favorable scenarios for breeding and rearing of various bird species in particular seasons. The temperature of Haryana makes it a suitable landscape for migratory birds coming from the harsh climate of Siberia and other parts of the world.
• Rajesh Chahal said that between September and October, birds come from about 29 countries for winter migration and make their return journey by March. Migratory birds started arriving in the national park long before the onset of winter this year. The park is an ideal habitat for birds, so a large number of birds travel thousands of miles to this wetland every year to rest and feed.
• Every year, bird counts are done in the park to note the number of birds and species that come to the area. This helps in understanding the migration patterns and ecology of the park.
• During the recently concluded bird census on 30 January, for the first time in Sultanpur National Park, migratory birds like Greater Spotted Eagle, Red Headed Falcon, Imperial Eagle, Common Kestrel, White Tailed Lapwing, Black Tailed Godwit were sighted for the first time. .
• Sultanpur National Park has more than 600 species of fauna including birds, amphibians and butterflies. There are over 417 species of birds. Additionally, there are 16 mammal species, 40 species of butterflies, 16 reptile species and 5 amphibian species.
• Rajesh Chahal explained that the migratory birds that usually fly in the park can be classified into three categories: waders (birds dependent on water), ducks (slightly dependent on deep water) and warblers (prefers reeds).
• According to the State of India's Birds, 2020, of the 1,220 species of birds found in India, 280 are long-distance migrants, while 116 are subcontinental migrants and the remaining species generally live within the country's borders.