Feature by Deepti Chhabra
Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary is a very popular national park of India, located in Sultanpur village, Farukhnagar, Gurugram district in Haryana. It was established in the year of 1971 and declared a National park in 1991. The park is also named as Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary after this famous Indian ornithologist and naturalist, to pay tribute to his efforts in natural conservation.
Sultanpur was the center of salt production for use in Delhi and the United Provinces till the late 19th century. The British Government shut it down in 1923 leading to loss of livelihood for a lot of people of this area. The area as a sanctuary was first noticed by an ornithologist and Honorary Secretary of Delhi Bird Watching Society, Mr. Peter Jackson. He wrote a letter to the Prime Minister of India, Ms. Indira Gandhi, in 1970 and demanded the need to declare the area as a bird sanctuary.
About 250 species of birds have been recorded in the Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary. Some of them are resident, while others come from distant regions like Siberia, Europe, and Afghanistan.
They come here during winter and stay on till March-April.
Some of the resident birds: Common Hoopoe, Paddyfield Pipit, Purple Sunbird, Little Cormorant, Eurasian Thick-knee, Gray Francolin, Black Francolin, Indian Roller, Whitethroated Kingfisher, Spot billed Duck, Painted Stork, White Ibis, Black headed Ibis, Little Egret, Great Egret, Cattle Egret, India Crested Lark, Red vented Bulbul, Magpie Robin, Weaver bird, etc.
Migratory birds that are found here in winter include Siberian Cranes, Greater Flamingo, Ruff, Black Winged Stilt, Common Teal, Common Greenshank, Northern Pintail, Yellow Wagtail, Spotted Redshank, Starling, Bluethroat and Long billed Pipit. In summer about 11 species of migratory birds such as Asian Koel, Black crowned Night Heron, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Comb duck, Blue cheeked Bee Eater, Blue tailed Bee Eater and Cuckoos come here.
Animals such as Blue bull, Indian Fox, Hedgehog, Mongoose, Striped Hyena, Indian Porcupine, Rattle/Honey badger, Wild Pig, and Four horned Antelope and Black Buck are also seen here.
All images by Dr. Kriti Maroli
