Sultanpur National Park : Immigration Of Migratory birds
Sultanpur National Park is once again echoing with the sounds of migratory birds, with their numbers rising significantly as temperatures drop.
- Sultanpur National Park, formerly known as Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary, is located in Haryana.
- It consists primarily of marshy lakes and floodplains.
- It includes a core area has the main Sultanpur Lake/Jheel.
- The Sultanpur Jheel is a seasonal freshwater wetland with fluctuating water levels throughout the year.
- This shallow lake is mostly fed by waters from River Yamuna’s Gurgaon canal and the overflowing waters of the neighboring agricultural lands.
- It gained national attention in the late 1960s due to the conservation efforts of ornithologists Peter Michel Jackson and Dr. Salim Ali, who frequently visited the site for birding.
- It was recognised as a Ramsar site in 2021.
- It has been identified as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International.
- The vegetation of this park is tropical and dry deciduous, and the flora includes grasses, dhok, khair, tendu, ber, jamun, banyan tree, neem, berberis, Acacia nilotica, and Acacia tortilis.
- It forms a part of the ‘Central Asian Migratory Flyway’ and thousands of migratory birds from the countries of Russia, Turkey, Afghanistan, and Europe visit the park during the winter months.
- Winter Migrants: Greater Flamingos, Northern Pintails, Eurasian Wigeons, Common Teals, and Bar-headed Geese.
- Resident Birds: Indian Peafowl, Red-wattled Lapwings, Cattle Egrets, and White-throated Kingfishers.
- Rare/Threatened Species: Sarus Crane, Black-necked Stork, and Indian Courser have been recorded here.
