India's Top 5 Destination for Migrants Birds

Birds migrating is a natural process and a treat to watch. A huge batch of the same species birds take up a journey heading towards their destination is purely an eye-catching view. The process of migration demands high strength and stamina. However, in the present scenario birds face a lot of threats caused by their fellow beings in the name humans. The various process of urbanizing our cities we have terribly hindered the birds leading to the extinction of some species. Yet, birds still make their way towards their destination in the name of migration. Let us check five such migratory destinations of birds in India.

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary

The pleasant Kumarakom bird sanctuary is located in God's own country, on the banks of Vembanad lake. This sanctuary is a destination place for various migratory birds during the winter. It is spread over 14 acres on the southern bank of the Meenachil River. This sanctuary attracts migratory birds namely teal, gull, tern, flycatcher and local birds like Koel, waterfowl, owl, heron, egret, cormorant, moorhen, darter, and brahminy Kite. Most of the migratory birds come from the Himalayas and a few from Siberia. 

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary

Ranganathittu is also popularly known as Pakshi Kashi, it is located in the Mandya district in Karnataka. This sanctuary is the largest one of the state, being spread over 40 acres also it comprises six islets on the banks of the Kaveri river. Ranganathittu has recorded close to 170 bird species, out of which the painted stork, woolly-necked stork,  lesser whistling duck, egret, cormorant, Oriental darter, spot-billed pelican, heron, common spoonbill, Indian shag, Asian openbill stork, black-headed ibis, and stork-billed kingfisher, regularly breed in this sanctuary. Also, river tern and great stone polver nest here. The sanctuary attracts migrants from Latin America, Siberia, and parts of North India. 

Bhigwan Bird Sanctuary

Bhigwan is located at the border of Pune, Ahmednagar, and Solapur district in Maharastra. This place is quite prominent for bird watching especially flamingo. Bhigwan is located near the backwaters of Ujani dam that is built on the Bhima River. The dam has created a shallow wetland that hosts the migrating birds. Over 230 species of migratory birds pay their visit to this sanctuary that includes painted storks, barheaded geese, and demoiselle cranes. Additionally,ducks, herons, raptors, herons, and wadres are commonly found. 

Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary

Nelapattu is located near the Nellore district in Andhra Pradesh. It is spread over 458.92 hectares. This sanctuary is a prominent breeding spot for the migrating birds such as little cormorant, black-headed ibis, black-crowned night heron, and Asian openbill. The other water migratory birds that visit this sanctuary include northern pintail,  common teal, northern shoveler, gadwall, Indian spot-billed duck, grey heron, Oriental darter, black-winged stilt, Eurasian coot, garganey, and little grebe. Nelapattu attracts nearly 189 bird species amongst which 50 are migratory. 

Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary

Bharatpur is currently known as Keoladeo Ghana National Park aka bird paradise, is located in Rajasthan. This national park is renowned for avifauna sanctuary that hosts nearly thousands of birds. The sanctuary is located in the Gangetic Plain makes it an ideal place for herons, storks, and cormorants to breed and an important ground for migrant ducks. The most common waterfowl are gadwall, shoveler, oriental ibis, common teal, cotton teal, tufted duck, knob-billed duck,   Indian shag, ruff, painted stork, white spoonbill, great cormorant, Asian open-billed stork, darter, little cormorant, common sandpiper, wood sandpiper, and green sandpiper.