Best Places for Bird-Watching

As a kid, I used to love watching a little sparrow bathing in a puddle formed by the first monsoon rains or the Koel whistling on the newly flowered mango tree. The ever present Mynahs; one for sorrow, two for joy, or the parrot digging into the guava fruit. That one canary that landed in my balcony, lost, forlorn but beautiful. I had forgotten my relationship with birds until one day I heard that House Sparrows are soon going to be extinct. The nostalgia of a long lost childhood, fueled by the inanity of everyday life made me yearn to renew my relationship with the avian friends of mine. My explorations and research has led to me these five best places for bird watching in India and abroad.

Papua New Guinea


 

The bizarre and showy birds of paradise with sweeping plumes and brilliant colours form the star attraction of Birding in Papua New Guinea. It is wonderful to see them engage in courtship displays where they dazzle their mates by spreading their colorful feathers. Other interesting birds include the flightless cassowary with a casque on its head, gorgeous parrots, magnificent gold and black whistlers, bower birds, fairy wrens, cockatoos and some incredibly gorgeous kingfishers and doves. Varirata National Park is one of the top bird watching sites on this Island with more than 700 species of land, freshwater and sea birds.

How do you get there? Varirata National Park is one hour drive from Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea. Accommodation and Birding Guides are easily available. The archipelago of Papua New Guinea being greatly isolated from the rest of the world, is a place of unspoiled raw nature. An early morning visit is recommended to avoid the crowd.

Kruger National Park, South Africa

The dense woodland Savannah vegetation of Kruger National Park in SA is home to more than 500 species of birds, of which the Martial Eagle, the Southern Ground Hornbill, Pel’s Fishing-Owl, Saddle-Billed Stork, lappet faced Vulture, and the Kori Bustard are the most impressive. These large and imposing birds give competition to their earthly counterparts -  'Big Five' wild animals of Africa. One can also readily spot an ostrich streaking across the Savannah or the glossy starling shimmering like a blue jewel. The best time to visit Kruger National Park is between October to March when the bird population swells by 200 species of migratory birds.

How do you get there? Mpumalanga Kruger International Airport near near Nelspruit and Kruger Park Gateway Airport in Phalaborwa are well connected by flight from Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and other important cities of South Africa. You can easily rent a car at these airports to drive down to Kruger National Park.

Queensland, Australia

The isolation of the Australian continent from the rest of the world has helped evolve some unusual animals and birds. The laughing Kookaburra derives its moniker from its maniac laughter like call. The magnificent tailed Lyrebird can mimic any sound it happens to hear. Pretty often in tourist prone areas, it mimics the camera shutter. The bower birds create towering nests from shiny things to attract the attention of their female counterparts. Other interesting birds found in Queensland are the flightless Emu, Great-billed Heron, Black Bittern, Mangrove Robin, Lovely Fairy-Wren and an endless array of colorful parrots.

How to get there? Visit the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary in Queensland, located in Currumbin on the Gold Coast to spot them all in one place. You can drive yourself or take the Currumbin Express Coach service, which runs between the Gold Coast Airport, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and Surfers Paradise multiple times in a day.

Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, Kerala

Thattekad Bird Sanctuary is one of the richest natural bird habitats in India. Located on the northern bank of the winding Periyar river, the sanctuary is located on the low lying forest area at the foot of the Western Ghats in Kerala. The hills are lush green, the river is overflowing and the birds abound. The forest is wonderfully scenic and peaceful, making bird watching here an even better experience. A vast variety of birds including some endangered species can be easily spotted in this 25 square kilometers of preserved area. The amazing electric blue Kingfisher, the little mossy green and crimson-throated Barbet, the Sunbird glittering with colors, Fairy Blue bird, the Malabar Trogan to describe a few.

How to get there? The sanctuary is located in Ernakulam district in a place known as Kothamangalam Taluk. It is a 45 kilometer drive from Cochin International Airport. Accommodation near the sanctuary is readily available. There are many camps and cottage tents available on raised platforms overlooking the lowland forest area of Thattekad Bird Sanctuary and the wildlife of Kerala.

Pangot, Uttarakhand

A short drive up from Nainital in the Kumaon Himalayas, Pangot is nestled among serene hills covered with lush greenery. Numerous perennial streams crisscross the area, tumbling downhill over rocks and crags. A leisurely walk through the thick forests of oak, rhododendron and pine trees reveals many interesting birds like the Lammergeier, blue-winged Minla, Himalayan Griffon, spotted and slaty-backed Forktail, Khalij Pheasant, rufous-bellied Woodpecker, rufous-bellied Niltava, and variety of thrushes. The birds encountered here range from the vulnerable Cheer Pheasant to the critically endangered Indian White backed Vulture.

How to get there? The easiest way to reach Pangot is to drive from Delhi. One can also take a train from Delhi to Kathgodam, and then rent a car to Pangot via Nainital.