Migratory Birds & Wildlife — Set 14

Correct Answer: B. Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary and Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary

Both Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary (in Gurugram district) and Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary (in Jhajjar district) are important wetlands in Haryana for migratory waterfowl. Sultanpur attracts various duck species, waders, and raptors from Central Asia during winter and has been declared a National Park. Bhindawas is the largest wetland in Haryana and attracts over 250 bird species including migratory ducks and herons. Both demonstrate that even in heavily modified agricultural landscapes, protected wetlands can support significant migratory bird diversity.

Correct Answer: B. Both Greater Flamingo and Lesser Flamingo

Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary in Gujarat hosts both Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) and Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor). Gujarat is India's most important flamingo state, with Flamingo City in the Rann of Kutch for Greater Flamingo breeding and Nalsarovar, Thane Creek, and other wetlands hosting winter flocks of both species. The two species coexist by exploiting different food sources: Lesser Flamingos filter cyanobacteria from highly alkaline water while Greater Flamingos feed on invertebrates in soft mud.

Correct Answer: B. Using weather radar systems to track the movement of millions of birds in real-time during migration seasons

Weather radar systems can detect the movement of millions of birds during migration as their echoes appear on radar screens. This technology allows scientists to track large-scale migration patterns, timing, altitude, and intensity across entire countries in real-time. Radar ornithology has revealed that billions of birds migrate nocturnally at altitudes of 1,000-3,000 metres, and that weather systems significantly affect migration timing and intensity. This technology is increasingly used in India to understand large-scale migration patterns in the Central Asian Flyway.

Correct Answer: B. Migration route for birds following the Indus river and its tributaries from Himalayan breeding grounds to Indian wintering areas

The Indus Valley serves as an important migration corridor for birds traveling between their Himalayan and Central Asian breeding grounds and their wintering areas in the Indian subcontinent. The river valley provides a navigational landmark and habitat chain for migrating birds. Species like the Common Sandpiper, various ducks, and raptors follow river valleys as navigational guides during migration. The Indus tributaries flowing through J&K and Punjab provide stepping stones of wetland habitat for migrating birds.

Correct Answer: B. Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary (Unnao), Sandi Bird Sanctuary, and Sur Sarovar near Agra

Several wetland sanctuaries in Uttar Pradesh are important for migratory birds, including Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary in Unnao district, Sandi Bird Sanctuary in Hardoi, and Sur Sarovar (Keetham Lake) near Agra. These shallow lakes attract migratory ducks (especially in winter), painted storks, and various waders. Sur Sarovar is a Ramsar site. UP's Gangetic floodplains and seasonal jheels (oxbow lakes) also provide important habitats for migratory species particularly cranes, geese, and ducks.

Correct Answer: B. Tracking populations of migratory waders (sandpipers, plovers) that use India's coasts and estuaries as critical stopover sites on the Central Asian Flyway

Shorebird Monitoring at Indian coasts is critically important for tracking populations of migratory waders using India's vast coastline (7,516 km) as stopover sites on the Central Asian Flyway. India's tidal mudflats, mangroves, and coastal wetlands host millions of waders during spring and autumn migration. Systematic shorebird monitoring reveals population trends, identifies key sites, and tracks the impact of coastal development, land reclamation, and pollution on migratory shorebird populations. Indian coast monitoring contributes to flyway-wide shorebird conservation assessments.

Correct Answer: B. Migratory ducks on its water bodies and passage migrants in its forests; winter migrant species like Asian Paradise Flycatcher and various warblers

Bandipur National Park in Karnataka, primarily known for tigers and elephants, also hosts various migratory birds including passage migrants and winter visitors to its forests and water bodies. Migratory species include various warbler species, flycatchers, and raptors that pass through or winter in the park's forests. The park's perennial water sources attract some migratory ducks in winter. Bandipur is part of the larger Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve which records over 300 bird species including both resident and migratory.

Correct Answer: B. A proposed flyway route for birds migrating through the Indian Peninsula between northern wintering areas and Sri Lankan or Southeast Asian destinations

The Great Indian Peninsular route represents an important flyway concept where migratory birds travel through the Indian peninsula from northern wintering areas to more southerly destinations in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, or as a transit route for birds moving between South Asia and Africa. Point Calimere at the southern tip of India is a critical funnel point. Birds including Oriental Honey Buzzard, Amur Falcon, and various passerines are channelled through the peninsula as they fly to and from Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia.

Correct Answer: B. Regular migrants follow predictable annual routes and timing; vagrants appear unexpectedly outside normal range due to navigational error, storms, or unusual weather

Regular Migrants follow predictable annual migration routes and timing, appearing in India in expected numbers at expected seasons (like Bar-headed Geese in winter). Vagrants appear unexpectedly outside their normal range or at unusual times due to navigational errors by young birds, storms, or unusual weather patterns. India records numerous vagrants annually — unexpected species from East Asian or European flyways. While vagrants are exciting for birdwatchers, they don't represent conservation concern. Regular migrants whose populations are declining are the conservation focus.

Correct Answer: A. Greater Flamingo

The Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) is the most common flamingo species in India and migrates to the Little Rann of Kutch in Gujarat for breeding. Thousands of flamingos nest at Nal Sarovar and Flamingo City (Rann of Kutch) each year. It is among the most spectacular migratory bird spectacles in India. This bird is frequently featured in GK questions about Indian migratory birds and wildlife sanctuaries.