Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary

Birds of Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary

                 Introduction of Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary

        Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary is a very popular to the bird watchers of India. It is located in Sultanpur village of Farukhnagar,Gurugram district in Haryana State at 40 kms distance  from Dhaula Kuan in Delhi and 15 km from Gurgaon on the Gurgaon - Farukh Nagar Road. This  place  was found by famous British ornithologist Peter Michel Jackson and he requested to Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi to declare it as a bird sanctuary. First Mrs. Gandhi  cancelled the proposal  but later instructed then Chief Minister of Haryana, Bansi Lal  to protect the wetland.  As a result the area was declared a Bird sanctuary in 1972. On 13 July 1989 the sanctuary got the status of a National Park. It has an area of 1.43 km².
         Earlier before the construction of bandhs and drainage, this areas around Sultanpur remained waterlogged. Haryana government has carried out a number of development works at Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary like construction of mounds, and widening of paths, four tube wells have also been dug. Efforts are being made to improve vegetation in area by planting more trees, which are popular with the birds like Acacia Nilotica, Acacia Tortilis, Beris and Neem etc.  Four watch towers (machans) are made  at different points to watch birds easily. Sultanpur Bird Sactuary has parking and other facilities like toilets and drinking water for visitors.

Pelicans at Sultantanpur Bird Sanctuary

             Birds sighted at Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary

       Approx 250 species of Birds are found at Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary. Some of them are resident, while others come from distant regions like Siberia, Europe and Afghanistan.
Name of some of the resident birds: Common Hoopoe, Paddyfield Pipit, Purple Sunbird, Little Cormorant, Eurasian Thick-knee, Gray Francolin, Black Francolin, Indian Roller, White-throated Kingfisher, Spot billed Duck, Painted Stork, White Ibis, Black headed Ibis, Little Egret, Great Egret, Cattle Egret, India Crested Lark, Red vented Bulbul, Rose ringed Parakeet, Red wattled Lapwing, Shikra, Eurasian collared Dove, Red collared Dove, Laughing Dove, Spotted Owlet, Rock Pigeon, Magpie Robin, Greater Coucal, Weaver Bird, Bank Mynah, Common Mynah and Green Bee Eater.
        More than hundred species of migratory bird  visit here Every year to feed. In winter the sanctuary provides is a panorama of migratory birds such as Siberian crane, Greater flamingo, Ruff, Black-winged stilt, Eurasian teal, Common greenshank, Northern pintail, Yellow wagtail, White wagtail, Northern shoveller, Rosy pelican, Spot-billed pelican, Gadwall, Wood sandpiper, Spotted sandpiper, Eurasian wigeon, Black-tailed godwit,Spotted redshank, Starling, Bluethroat and Long-billed pipit.
        In summer about 11 species of migratory birds such as Asian koel, Black-crowned night heron, Grey heron, Indian golden oriole, Knob-billed duck, Blue-cheeked bee-eater, Blue-tailed bee-eater and Cuckoos come here.

             When to Visit Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary

        Best time to visit this sanctuary is winters when a large number of migratory birds come here. All Visitors are required to pay a ₹5.00 as entry fee and to show identity card to visit Sultanpur National Park. Sultanpur Bird Sactuary has parking and other facilities like toilets and drinking water, children's park  for visitors.There is an education and interpretation center, a library, films, slides and binoculars for the benefit of bird lovers. It takes two hours to walk along the perimeter of the park. There is a room in memoir of Dr. Salim Ali,the world famous ornithologist of India which contains his bust, photographs, write ups, and some of his personal belongings.For those wishing to stay overnight, the park also has a well-appointed guest house with all amenities.Timings of the park is 7:00 am to 4:30 pm and it remains closed on Tuesdays.
            Those who wishing to stay overnight, the park also has a well-appointed guest house with all amenities for them.

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