A paradise for winged beauties

  • Barnali Dutta / FG
  • India
  • Oct 25, 2014

 

 


Photo: Prakhar Pandey

Sandwiched between the two concrete jungles of the National Capital and the Millennium City is Sultanpur Jheel (Lake), an abode for birds. Indeed,  this is a haven not only for these winged beauties but also for lovers of Mother Nature. Migratory birds from many parts of the world come here   for their winter sojourn as well as for breeding. Perhaps, after the famed  sanctuary of Keol Deo at Bharatpur in Rajasthan, Sultanpur is the most favoured spot to watch the colourful winged beauties. It features prominently in the itinerary of nature-lover tourists visiting Delhi. The erstwhile favourite,  the Okhla bird sanctuary on the banks of the River Yamuna  on the Delhi-NOIDA border, no longer attracts birds, due to the heavy pollution in and around the river, and the almost round-the-clock vehicular traffic in its vicinity. The Sultanpur Lake still offers serenity and a favourable environment for the birds, and even other species of wildlife. However,  there have been critical comments on its upkeep by the Forest Department of Haryana. Renowned ornithologists like Ranjit Lal and the late Dr. Salim Ali have extensively written about the Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary. It has also been a popular locale for the producers of documentary movies. Acting Shakti Singh, DFO Wildlife, one of the Rangers at this sanctuary, says, “Our staff look after the  security and they also keep a check on the visitors and their behaviour, so that their presence doesn’t spoil the natural environ of the sanctuary.” The surroundings are  lush and green, and cowherds from the nearby villages regularly bring their livestock  to the Sanctuary for grazing. The birds often perch on the cattle, to peck for their feed of lice. Commenting on the need to preserve the natural beauty of this place,  Shakti Singh adds, “We do not believe that we need to landscape or ‘touch up’ this place, to make it ‘attractive’ for tourists. Our priority is the birds. They should not feel disturbed or uncomfortable.”   

Sultanpur gets a good number of visitors on Sundays. For students, this place  them offers a great opportunity to learn more about birds and their habits.  Suvojit Singh, a young college student from JNU in New Delhi, who often visits his  relatives in Gurgaon, says, “This is a wonderful paradise for birds, and the facilities are ideal for someone – like me - who studies birds. The villagers from around this area have also benefitted, and some even acting as guides for the tourists - particularly  on busy day.” Visitors are delighted to be able to watch the national bird, Mayur, the peacock or peafowl, showcasing all its regality. Its lustrous feathers have been valued from times immemorial, when these birds were reared in gardens. The feathers of the male (the peacock) were considered adornments fit for Gods and royalty. In India the peacock is the ‘vehicle’ of Hindu God Kartikeya, while a crown topped by a peacock feather is essential to Lord Krishna’s iconography. Among the other winged beauties spotted at the Sultanpur Sanctuary is the Grey Francolin.  Also named the Grey Partridge, its claim to fame has been its use, again since ages,  as a fighting bird in northern India and Pakistan; these birds were domesticated and then used for bird fights. These lovely birds also often engage in charming duets. The female repeatedly echoes a clarion call, ‘Tee...tee...tee’ or ‘Kila... kila...kila’, and the male responds with ‘Kateetar...kateetaar...kateetaar’.  The other winged beauty here is the black-headed Ibis, also known as White Ibis.  These birds opt for wetlands and are also known to travel great distances in  search of food and water. They are found in large numbers from August to October.  A common bird is the Indian Pond Heron. This elegant water bird is often found  near water bodies and Sultanpur happens to be its favourite destination. On these  birds, Rajat Yadav, one of the visitor, says, “It is remarkable to see how their plumage changes according to the season. When breeding, they have a yellow-buff  head and neck and white wings, with a buff-wash across the coverts.” A popular bird  is the Cattle Egret, a stocky creature with a thick neck and hunched back, which  ‘targets’ the grazing cattle in the fields. It is interesting to track it as it follows the cattle  and other large animals. No wonder these birds are also known as cow cranes, cow birds, cow herons, elephant birds and even rhinoceros egrets (in Assam and northern Bengal). Among the eye catching birds are those belonging to the family of Cormorants. Although named the Little Cormorant, these birds are fairly large-sized – they measure about 50cm  in length. They have a glistening black plumage and a short crest at the back of their heads. They have dark eyes, and sometimes display a white patch on their throat. The non-breeding adults possess a duller plumage. Their webbed feet enable them to swim, while the slender hooked bills are suitable for catching fish. It is a delight to watch all these birds at Sultanpur Sanctuary.  

 

 

Among the foreign tourists (thankfully needing no ‘visa or travel permits’) are the Crested  Honey Buzzards. With their long necks and small heads, they are regarded closer to Kites  than Buzzards. They are a marvel to watch and appreciate, says one of the workers at the Sanctuary. He adds, “An expert ornithologist would explain how, interestingly, the appearance of different subspecies of the Oriental Honey Buzzards is known to  closely resemble the species of hawk-eagles that inhabit the same range. This ‘mimicry’ helps the Oriental Honey Buzzard to avoid being attacked by its more powerful raptors.  That is perhaps why these birds have taken a liking to Sultanpur.” Sultanpur is a  sanctuary for us humans too, away from the buzz of city life. You can lilt to the chirping music of the winged beauties, particularly during October to March. You can perhaps  even catch a Shikara, which at one time was a favourite amongst the falconers, as it can be easily trained. Today, while an INS Shikara guards our maritime frontiers, let us  pledge to protect this sanctuary of the Shikara.


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