birding...

Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis ©Laurence Poh http://www.laurencepoh.com/

The state of Rajasthan has more than 40 million people and is the largest state in India. Its area is over 34 million hectares; 11% of all India. Its ecosystems face several problems; desertification, deforestation, land degradation, and ravine formation etc. Increasing numbers of people and cattle means increasing pressure on natural resources, often causing conflict between local communities and protection agencies. There is a marked difference in the physiographic features of the state. The Aravallis, one of the oldest mountain systems, divides the state into two unequal parts. A vast expanse of arid and semi-arid tract lies to their west. To the east are fertile fields and stretches of the Vindhyan hill system. The official claim for total forest cover in this desert state is 7-9%. The three National Parks cover 919 sq. km area, 22 Sanctuaries represent 8,389 sq. km, while the Closed Areas (where hunting is prohibited) have an area of 14,865.17 sq. km. The physio-graphy of Rajasthan is the product of long years of erosion and depositional processes. Three major ecosystems can be identified here.

The Western Desert Region
The western desert region is characterised by arid landscape, barren hills, level rocky structural plains, and other sandy plains with alluvial layers underneath. It also has sandy hummocks and low sand dunes of various kinds and inter-dunal plains. This terrain hosts xerophytes wherein are found a variety of mammals, reptiles, birds etc (black buck, gazelle, desert fox, gerbils, rodents, spiny tailed lizard, snakes and nearly 100 species of resident and migratory birds; the Great Indian Bustard finds its home in this region). The Indira Gandhi Canal now passes through Sri Ganganagar, Bikaner, and Jaisalmer, and will soon extend to Barmer district. It has given rise to a new aquatic ecosystem in an area that never received irrigation or moisture before. Bird species that had never been reported in the region have now appeared.

The Aravalli Hills
The Aravalli hills dominate Rajasthan. This range runs diagonally across the state from Kotra in the southwest to Khetri in the northeast covering a distance of about 550kms. This belt is home to some of the most magnificent species of mammals, reptiles, birds etc. (tigers, leopards, sloth bear, spotted deer, sambar deer, wild boar, hyena, jackal, jungle cat, python, snakes, with nearly 450 species of terrestrial, arboreal and other birds).

The Eastern Plains
This is the most fertile region of Rajasthan and covers nearly one third of the state. It comprises vast agricultural fields, grasslands, hills, valleys, and seasonal river systems where the population is denser than in the western desert areas. The Chambal River (Kota, Sawai Madhopur, Karauli and Dholpur districts) and the Mahi river (Banswara and Dungarpur districts) are the only perennial rivers and offer many aquatic benefits.

Avifauna
Rajasthan state has a vast diversity of bird life. Nearly 450 species can be observed in the state. The national parks/sanctuaries, water bodies, grasslands and river beds offer wonderful bird watching. There are 28 national parks/sanctuaries in the state that are administered by the Department of Forests. The Keoladeo National Park, located near the city of Bharatpur, has the most potential for bird watching. One can log 100 species in a day visit to this 29sq. km park, of which about 6sq. km is aquatic. It is celebrated for breeding of resident species of birds such as Open-billed Storks, Painted Storks, Herons, Egrets, Spoonbill, Ibis, Kingfishers, Jacanas, Cotton Teal, Comb Duck, and Whistling Duck etc. During winter, its shallow lakes teem with thousands of migratory ducks and geese besides waders, warblers and numerous other forest/land birds. The park is also noted for raptor species such as harriers, eagles, buzzards, falcons, kites, & Shikra etc. The vultures used to be a common sight here until about five years ago. Keoladeo National Park is one of the two Ramsar Sites in Rajasthan.

Sambhar lake, another Ramsar Site is located west of Jaipur. About 80 species of birds can be sighted here during winter season. It is a haven for waders, flamingos and some ducks. Ranthambhor Tiger Reserve, and Sariska Tiger Reserve, are the other two national parks in Rajasthan. Each has nearly 250 species of birds besides some spectacular mammals in their wilderness, Ranthambhor being noted as a nursery for tigers.

Rare Species
Rajasthan has some of the rarest of Indian species such as Lesser Adjutant Stork, Great Indian Bustard (the State Bird of Rajasthan); Lesser Florican, Stoliczka`s Bushchat, Vultures etc. The Bustard presents a rare example, having been saved from the brink of extinction through public agitation against illegal hunting during the late seventies (led by this author - Harsh Vardhan).

Common Birds
The common species in Rajasthan include Peacock, Pigeons, Doves, Mynas, Sparrows, Crows, Koels, Partridges, Parrots, Babblers, Tailor Birds, Sunbirds, Green Bee-eater, Red-vented Bulbul, Kite, Hoopoe, Drongo etc.