ગુજરાતી
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May 10: ‘World Migration-Migratory Bird’ Day
Ahmedabad, May 10, 2025
In the 2 years from 2023 to 2025, about 14 lakh 20 thousand migratory birds came to Gujarat in 4 ‘Ramsar Site’ areas of the state. These birds fly to Gujarat from Pakistan or the Arabian Sea. They do not respect borders.
In the year 2024-25, 6 lakh 91 thousand migratory birds of 276 species came to Nalsarovar.
The highest number of 5 lakh 34 thousand migratory birds of 291 species were recorded in Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary.
Birds mainly come to Gujarat in the months of November to February.
Nal Sarovar
In the year 2024-25, the highest number of 6 lakh 91 thousand migratory birds of 276 species came to Nal Sarovar. These birds mainly include Shoveler, Pintail, Godwit, Goose, Pelican, Flamingo, Gargantua, Pochard, Eagle, Crane, Waders, Stork, Coot, Spoon Bill, Egret etc.
Nal Sarovar, located on the Central Asian route, was given the status of bird sanctuary in the year 1969 and ‘Ramsar Site’ in the year 2012. This lake is spread over an area of about 120 square kilometers. Since migratory birds come to Nal Sarovar every year, a total of more than 328 bird species have been recorded so far. The estimated count of birds is done every second year by the Forest Department.
Khijadiya
The Marine National Park-Khijadia Bird Sanctuary located in Jamnagar district received a total of 5 lakh 34 thousand migratory birds of 2 lakh 25 thousand 169 of 286 species in the year 2024 and the maximum of 3 lakh 9 thousand 62 birds of 291 species in the year 2025.
Waders, predators and long-legged birds can be seen on water, land, trees.
A total of 314 bird species have been seen so far. Out of which 170 were migratory birds, including birds from countries like Siberia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Mongolia, Iraq, Iran, Europe, South America etc., which become guests of Khijadiya and enhance the glory of the sanctuary.
Khijadia Bird Sanctuary, declared by the Government of India in the year 1982, is 13 km away from Jamnagar city. It is spread over an area of 5.05 square kilometers. This sanctuary is mainly divided into two parts, 1 towards Dhuvav and 2 towards Jambuda.
Khijadiya falls in the middle of the Indo-Asian Flyway. Which is an ideal stopover for migratory birds. Some of them reside in this area throughout the winter. This sanctuary was given the status of ‘Ramsar Site’ in the year 2021.
Wadhwana Lake
Wadhwana Lake was given the status of ‘Ramsar Site’ in the year 2021. 58 thousand 138 migratory birds of 167 species came to Wadhwana Lake in the year 2023-24 and 54 thousand 169 migratory birds of 145 species came to Wadhwana Lake in the year 2024-25. These mainly include birds like Northern Pintail, Common Teal, Ruddy Shelduck, Gray Lam Grim, Spoonbills, Pond Heron, Greater Heron, Cormorant, Darter, Spotted Billed Duck, Black-tailed Godbit, Waded Stork, Northern Shoveler, Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Rosy Starling.
Thol
Thol Wildlife Sanctuary, which has been a ‘Ramsar Site’ since 2021, received 55,587 migratory birds of 74 species in 2024 and 26,162 migratory birds of 59 species in 2025.
Ramsar Site
Out of the total 89 Ramsar sites in India, 4 Ramsar sites are located in Gujarat. These are Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary, Khijadiya Wildlife Sanctuary and Wadhwana Wetland. There are several wetland-based protected areas here, such as Marine National Park and Sanctuary, Khijadiya Sanctuary, Nalsarovar Sanctuary, Chhari Dhandh Conservation Reserve, Little Rann of Kutch-Ghudkhar Sanctuary, Big Rann of Kutch-Rann of Kutch Sanctuary and Porbandar Bird Sanctuary.
