The bird watchers are all smiles seeing different varieties of birds these days in Rajaji National Park. The winter migratory bird season ended in March and now the summer visitors have started to register their entries in the Rajaji National Park and Tiger Reserve known for its rich flora and fauna. The winged guests spotted in the past few days are mostly from the southern India. Over 15 species of these summer guests have been seen by the ornithologists.
Notably, these summer guests come here for nesting and breeding and they return by September along with their young ones.
From the forests of the terrain region to the hill tops of the Himalayas, the environment for the birds is amicable. Right from the food requirements to the stay, there is ample of forest resource present in Uttarakhand. The Rajaji National Park, spread over 1075 sq km provides the nesting and breeding grounds to these winged guests, especially the Chilla range of Haridwar.
Speaking to The Pioneer, a nature guide of Rajaji National Park Veeru said, “As many as 15 species of birds from the southern parts of India have reached the forest ranges of Rajaji National Park, delighting the bird watchers.”
The male birds are busy wooing their female counterparts by singing songs or showing some acrobatics. “Different sounds of birds are audible these days in the Rajaji Park. The multi- coloured birds with their long and short tails are seen perching from one branch of tree to another in the morning hours when the cool breeze flows over the Ganga,” added Veeru.
Near Mundal Chowki of Chilla range of forest, Green bee-eater, Chestnut bee-eater, blue-tailed bee-eater, black headed Priel, long tailed minivet, Rosy minivet, Asian paradise fly catcher, common hawk, cuckoo are some of the birds spotted.
The exact reason behind their migration from southern India is a matter of study, says an eminent bird scientist Prof Dinesh Bhatt of Gurukul Kangri University. “There is not much study done on the summer visitors, though lot of information is available on winter migratory birds who come from far- off countries. The obvious reason behind these summer guests is the availability of food in the rich forest division.”