BHARATPUR TRAVEL GUIDE
Places
to See Keoladeo National
Park 
A
paradise for the avian world, and the pilgrimage for the bird lovers, it was known
as the best duck shooting resort in the British empire. But was declared a reserve
for birds in 1956 and later upgraded to National Park. UNESCO has listed it as
a world heritage site. The geographical location is ideal as it is on the main
North-South avian route of India. Although small in size, 29 sq km. Only, it boasts
to house more than 375 species of beautiful birds, and more than 132 of them breed
inside the Keoladeo Ghana National Park and nearly every year new ones are added
to the list.
The sanctuary not only attracts birds from India but also
from places like Europe, Siberia, China and Tibet Before monsoons hundreds of
these exotic birds roost and nest building activities start on the babool and
kadam trees of the park. Water coming through the Ajan Bandh starts filling the
various ponds and lakes of the Park.
When assured of enough food, hundreds
of large, medium and little cormorant, darter, purple and grey heron, various
species of egret, painted, open-billed, white necked and black necket stork, white
ibis, spoonbill, night heron and other birds get busy in courting and mating.
The trees are overflooded with nest, one can observe a tree housing nests upto
fifties and sixties in number belongign to different species of birds looking
after theri loving young onces. The nests on the trees look like pearl necklaces.
Gracious Saras cranes, the tallest flight birds nest in exposed and open area,
both partners share the duty of hatching, while changing incubaating duties, they
come together, raise their neck and give out shrill trumpetic calls in unison
and at the same time fan their feathers.
The newly born chicks are only
10cm. in size but grows upto one metre in height within a year. As the monsoons
arrive birds from every part of the country start pouring into the park. Migratory
water-fowls, including the pride of Keoladeo Siberian Cranes form the indispensable
part of Park. The water-fowls visit the park in millions during the month of October.
Rosy starling marks the beginning of the arrival of migratory birds. The most
noticeable water-fowl coming to the park are barheaded and greyleg geese.
The ducks spotted here are pintail, common teal, ruddy shelduck, mallard, widgeon,
shoveler, commong shelduck, red crested pochard, gadwall etc. predatory birds
like imperial eagle, steppe and tawny eage, spotted eargle, marsh harrier and
laggar falcon are attracted towards the park completing the avian food chain of
the ecosystem. Some of them like short toed eagle, lesser spotted eagle and shikra
are the residents of Park. About 11 sq. km.
Area of the park is covered
with water the remaining portion is rich with Kingfisher, Red Vented and white
cheeked Bulbuls, Babblers, Quails, Partridges,Sunbirds, Sparrows, Parakeets and
orioles which live in bushes and burrows. The year round activity of the winged
beauties has made the park a pilgrimage for bird lovers and an ornithologists
delight. The animal populace also show their presence although they are thoroughly
dominated by feathers, wings and beaks. The animals include the Black Buck, Sambhar
- the largest Indian Antelope, Spotted deer, and Nilgais.
Pythons can
also be observed at some places lazing in the sun. Vehicles are only permitted
upto Shanti Kutir inside the park. The Electra Van of forest department can be
engaged in the sanctuary, although the best way to explore the park is on foot
or bicycles which are available on hire. Cycle rickshaws can also be hired.
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