KUTCH LIES ON THE ROUTE USED BY MIGRATING BIRDS FROM SIBERIA

Fly to Kutch now to catch our feathered friends from abroad

KUTCH LIES ON THE ROUTE USED BY MIGRATING BIRDS FROM SIBERIA

AT FIRST glance, the barren landscape of Kutch does not look promising. Well, the area does lie within the boundaries of the Thar desert, and it is one of the dustiest and hottest regions in the country. But every year from December to March, Kutch turns into a paradise for bird lovers when around 370 species arrive. Kutch's location as a birding hotspot is due to the fact that it lies at the crossroads of palearctic migration streams.
What that means is that it lies along a route used by birds from Europe, Siberia and the Middle East to fly south in search of warmer weather. The birds flock to The Great Rann of Kutch, the Little Rann and the Banni grasslands on its southern edge, which span some 30,000 sq km of dry and desolate landscape, interspersed with small uplands (areas of high or hilly land) between the Gulf of Kutch and the mouth of the Indus River in southern Pakistan.

ON THE SPOT So what kinds of birds can one hope to spot? High up on the list are the Grey Hypocolius (Kutch is the only known wintering site in India), White-Naped Tit, Stoliczka's Bushchat, Sykes's Nightjar, Greater Hoopoe Lark, Merlin, MacQueen's and Indian Bustards, among others. The Naliya grassland is perhaps the only sanctuary in India where three species of bustards are found ­ the critically endangered Great Indian is a resident, the endangered Lesser Florican is a monsoon breeder and the vulnerable MacQueen's Bustard is a winter visitor at this place.
Besides, over 30,000 Common Cranes visit Kutch annually. Other birds of conservational importance include the Dalmatian Pelicans, Oriental Darters, Black-Necked Storks and Indian Skimmers.
Another significant area for birding is Jamnagar, on the coast of the Gulf of Kutch, whose unspoilt beaches and islands are a good place to spot coastal birds like waders and waterfowls. Other areas like Khijadia Bird Sanctuary, Narara beach and Lake Lakota in the heart of the city are home to over 220 species, both migratory and resident, including rarities like the Dalmatian Pelican, Asian Open Bill Stork, BlackNecked Stork, Darter, Black-Headed Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill and the Indian Skimmer. These endangered birds are found in large numbers.

VISITOR HAVEN It's not just the birds that find Kutch a natural haven. The area also supports over 50 mammal species ­ the Asiatic wild ass, chinkara, nilgai, wolf, blackbuck, striped hyena, desert cat, caracal among others, and, of course, camels.
With all this bio-diversity, it's no wonder that Kutch has become an attractive destination for tourists, almost 90 per cent of whom are birdwatchers. This number has been on the rise over the last three to four years and has given the local economy a boost.
But like all earthly edens, Kutch is threatened from several quarters. Cattle grazing, traffic and the cutting of trees to produce charcoal could drive the birds and animals away. And, because the area supplies the country with 25 per cent of its salt, and is being pushed to expand salt extraction operations further, the wildlife will be further disturbed. Now it's up to us to make sure this paradise is never lost.



TRAVEL INFO BY ROAD: State transport and private buses are available from Mumbai.
You can also drive down or book a private cab

BY RAIL: Kutch Express and Sayaji Nagari Express from Mumbai via Surat, Ahmedabad and Gandhidham to Bhuj

BY AIR: There are daily Jet Airways and Kingfisher flights from Mumbai to Bhuj Airport