With 1/4th of India’s wetlands within its territory, Gujarat may boast of the highest share of wetlands in the country, but many of them are still unheard of. In fact, talk about wetlands and bird-watching often gets restricted to a handful of popular sites like Nalsarovar, Thol or Khijadiya.
On World Wetlands Day, DNA profiles some of the less-known wetlands here, that for long have played host to a variety of winged visitors but don’t figure prominently in tourists’ itinerary.
Kumbharvada
Where: Outskirts of Bhavnagar
A wetland created out of unused saltpans and areas inundated with waste water from city, Kumbharvada is unique, as it is neither a freshwater wetland nor a coastal one. It supports close to 65 species of aquatic birds alone and hosts 100 species of birds.
While lesser flamingoes can be found in abundance, at times up to 7,000 waders can be seen here. A researcher working in the area, Viraj Vyas said, that the waste water, along with rain water and unused salt pans provide ample food for the birds.
Bhal
Where: 100 km south of A’bad district
Though not a proper wetland, this low-lying area gets inundated with rain water during monsoon turning it into a wetland. This temporary wetland supports close to 150 species of birds both aquatic and terrestrial, more commonly ducks and waders (birds that hunt for food in sludge). They stay here from July to mid December.
Damri
Where: 25 km from Kankaria Lake in Ahmedabad
A man-made freshwater wetland, Damli has been created out of an irrigation pond (talav). Located in Kheda taluka, some 28 km south of Kankaria in Ahmedabad, waterbirds like Northern Shovelers , Gadwalls, Common and Garganey Teals, Purple Swamphens, Bronzwinged Jacana, egrets, Painted and Openbill Storks, Greater Flamingos, Sarus Crane, and kingfishers are frequenters here. Ornithologist Dr Ketan Tatu said that the Greylag Goose is seen in thousands here during winter. As the waterbirds are in harmony with the local farmers, they are not disturbed by human presence.
Devisar Talav
Where: Near Rudramata Dam, Kutch
Migratory birds have been using it as their home for over two centuries now. “There are records even in history books,” said Shantilal Varu, an avid bird-watcher. While Rudramata Dam is a popular picnic spot, not many people know that Devisar Talav is a wetland. Though the talav is small it hosts around 25 different species of birds both local and migratory. The sighting of the birds depends on the season as well as the level of the water, said Varu.
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