After several years, Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary in Gurgaon wears a busy look once more with the arrival of 5,000 migratory birds of various types. This number is expected to increase considerably by the end of the season.
A spokesman of the Haryana Tourism said that six species have arrived so far from European countries, Siberia and Central Asia and sanctuary officials were hopeful that 100 odd varieties that used to flock to the park few years back may be seen again.
The spokeman said that inside the park, Haryana Tourism runs a tourist complex that had air-conditioned as well as general rooms. The facilities available there includes bar, restaurant, and cottages for the guests.
He said that Sultanpur Lake is the point around which the Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary had been developed. The lake is a picnic for the visitors and tourists with boating facilities. The lake has a good number of reptiles it attracts a lot of migratory birds during winters.
The Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary is home to a large range of birds, both resident and migratory. Migratory geese and Siberian cranes spend the winter in Sultanpur and there are also the demoiselle cranes, ruddy shelducks, pelicans, flamingoes, bar-headed geese, grey lags, gadwalls, mallards, pochards, shovellers and teals. Local species includes plovers, red-wattled lapwings, herons, cormorants, white ibises, spoonbills and painted storks. Other wildlife in the park includes blackbuck, nilgai, hog deer, sambar, wild dog or dhole, caracal, wildcat, hedgehog, mongoose, striped hyena, Indian porcupine, rattle/honey badger, leopard, wild pig, and four horned antelope, he added.
He said Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary is haunt of the birdman Late Salim Ali and innumerable bird watchers who come in to observe bird antics. There are hideouts, watchtowers and a museum for those keen on serious study.
He said that the winter months from November-March offer an excellent opportunity for the school groups, corporate houses, family groups and individuals to visit this renowned bird sanctuary and enjoy the week end in the lap of nature. The shallow lake and scrubby woodland is an ideal get away.
This park was established in 1972 and upgraded to a National Park in 1991. Located just 50 kms from Delhi, on the Delhi-Jaipur Highway, in the Gurgaon district.
This reserve for the winged visitors has both winter and summer migratory birds like Siberian cranes, demoiselle cranes, ruddy shel duck, rosy pelican, mallard, pochard, teals, black winged stlit, greenshank, yellow and white wagtail, wood and spotted sandpiper northern pintail, long billed pipit, parakeets and many more. Other wild life includes black buck, hog deer; stripped hyena and antelopes.