Migratory Birds & Wildlife
Forest & Wildlife · प्रवासी पक्षी और वन्यजीव · 18 facts
Siberian Crane (Grus leucogeranus): Critically Endangered; winters at Keoladeo Ghana (Bharatpur); no longer regularly seen there since 2002; long-distance migrant.
Amur Falcon: World's largest raptor migration; 120,000+ falcons congregate at Doyang reservoir, Nagaland before crossing the Indian Ocean to Africa.
Flamingos in India: Millions of Lesser Flamingos winter at Rann of Kutch (Gujarat) and Sewri, Mumbai; largest flamingo gathering in Asia.
Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus): Migrates over Himalayas at altitudes of 7000-8000 meters; one of world's highest flying birds; winters in India.
Rosy Pelican: Migratory; winters in Chilika Lake and Point Calimere; arrives from central Asia and western Asia.
Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala): Indian resident, but some populations move seasonally; nests in Bharatpur, Vedanthangal (Tamil Nadu).
Central Asian Flyway (CAF): Migratory bird route from Arctic/sub-Arctic to South/Southeast Asia; India is a major wintering ground for CAF species.
World Migratory Bird Day: Celebrated twice yearly — 2nd Saturday of May and October; global awareness campaign for migratory bird conservation.
BNHS (Bombay Natural History Society): India's premier wildlife research organization; founded 1883; HQ Mumbai; monitors migratory birds, publishes field guides.
CMS (Convention on Migratory Species): Bonn Convention, 1979; India is a signatory; protects migratory animals and their habitats.
Keoladeo Ghana NP (Bharatpur): Former royal hunting ground; UNESCO World Heritage; named after a Shiva temple; world-famous birdwatching destination.
Great Indian Hornbill (Buceros bicornis): State Bird of Arunachal Pradesh and Kerala; found in Western Ghats, NE forests; Hornbill Festival celebrated in Nagaland.
Indian Peafowl (National Bird): Non-migratory; IUCN Least Concern but protected under WPA Schedule I; Maharashtra's State Bird too.
Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu): Oldest bird sanctuary in India (since 1850s); migratory birds come from Siberia, Australia; 40,000 birds nest every year.
Common Swift (Apus apus): Migratory; stays airborne for 10+ months; fastest migratory bird; winters in Africa, breeds in Europe/Asia.
Bird banding/ringing: Scientific method to track migration; BNHS coordinates India's bird ringing program; data contributes to global migration databases.
Christmas Bird Count India: Annual citizen science bird counting event; ebird (Cornell Lab) platform used; India has 1300+ bird species (one of world's highest).
Protection under WPA: Migratory birds in India protected under Schedule IV of WPA 1972; hunting, capturing, or disturbing them is prohibited.