Bird watching is an obsession with crazy wildlife enthusiasts. However, you can also discover how fascinating and fun it can be to watch birds in the varied Indian atmosphere. Bird watching is a great way of cheering in India. For Birder or twitcher, India is the most ideal destination with over 2,000 species of birds commanding the skyline, trees, water bodies and forest areas. So be equipped with binoculars, telescopes, and cameras as well as a field guide for identification of the birds and head towards India.

India offers an amazing variety of habitats for birds at Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary and Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary in Rajasthan as well as the famed Corbett National Park in Uttranchal. In addition, there are some bird sanctuaries, just reserved for the beautiful members of the avian community, which include both the domestic and the migratory species. The migrating birds such as the Siberian Cranes are drawn to the wide-open spaces of the Bharatpur (Keoladeo) sanctuary, known for its bird population. Each one of the birds moving in the Indian ambience is as unique as the other. This provides unmatched opportunities to view innumerable species in natural settings.

Among the most famous bird sanctuaries in India are, the Keoladeo Ghana National Park in Bharatpur, Sultanpur National Park, Thattekad Bird Sanctuary (South India) and many more. These sanctuaries offer wide variety of bird species. Here one can watch countless birds in their natural habitat and take pleasure in their charming habits.

Keoladeo National Park (Bhartapur Bird Sanctuary) :
Keoladeo Ghana National Park is one of India's leading wildlife conservation centers. Considered to be the best sites for bird watching in the world, the sanctuary annually hosts thousands of visitors who come to view the spectacular wildlife.

Renowned as a bird lover's paradise, the park sprawls over an area of 30 sq km of marshy swamp, kadam forests, woodland and shallow lakes. The Keoladeo Sanctuary offers habitat to both nesting indigenous birds as well as migratory water birds. An amazing number of more than 330 species of birds have been spotted and identified in the Keoladeo Sanctuary. The Siberian Crane, the finest and rarest of migratory birds, are the cynosure this sanctuary and are regular visitors in the winters. However it is of great concern that only 125 pairs of these pure white, crimson-billed cranes estimated to survive worldwide. Abundance of aquatic vegetation, frogs, fish, insects and mollusks, has created a fine setting for the migratory birds like pelicans, storks, herons, egrets and kingfishers. It is of no surprise that one tree can have nests of different birds, may be both resident and migratory. The sanctuary is known to have been the best breeding ground for more than a thousand species of birds. Migratory birds start arriving in the month of October, autumn season in India. They include a variety of Geese, Ducks, Raptors, Geese, Warblers and Waders.

Park Trip :
There are well-defined forest trails, which can easily be covered on foot or on a cycle or you can also hire a rickshaw that are available on hire. Rickshaw pullers have been trained by the park management in bird watching and are quite knowledgeable. Boats are also available on hire. A early morning boat trip or a late evening one is quite a rewarding experience to check out the hidden surprises of Bharatpur

Basic Guidelines -

• Accompany a naturalist, who will help you identify the Birds.
• Take a pair of binocular, for clear viewing of birds.
• Also take a camera and telescope.
• Do not disturb the birds.
• Keep silence in the park complex.
• Throw the waste products in waste product zones.
• Don't carry guns and other weapons.