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Porbandar Bird Sanctuary

Porbandar Bird Sanctuary

Porbandar Bird Sanctuary is the only sanctuary which is located in the heart of the city of Porbandar. It was established based on the recommendation of a naturalist Mr. Peter Jackson who took a tour of the city in 1981. It is an unparalleled example of co-existence of man living together with the nature and surroundings. The sanctuary spreads over a land area of one square kilometers.

This sanctuary is the only sanctuary in all of Gujarat which gives legal protection to all varieties of birds that inhabit the area. It is one of the smallest yet beautiful sanctuaries which are spread around a lake that attracts diverse migratory birds and some other birds like fowls, curlews, ibis and teals. Built in 1988, the area of the sanctuary was initially under Porbandar Municipality. However, in 1990 the sanctuary was taken over by the Forest Department. After that the Sanctuary was brought under section 18 of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 under Gujarat State Government.

Geography of Porbandar Bird Sanctuary

This sanctuary has a land area of 1 square kilometer around a freshwater lake. The mild and calm surroundings of the Porbandar bird sanctuary make it a very suitable place for various types of Avifauna. There are a few trees and wetlands all around the lake making it an ideal attraction for birds. The lake is a permanent source of water and is a bit saline due to the salinity of the land. However even though the lake is constantly supplied with water, still the pollution level has increased over the past few years due to the discharge of sewage water into the lake.

Flora and Fauna of Porbandar Bird Sanctuary

Flora and fauna of Porbandar Bird Sanctuary

Porbandar Wildlife Sanctuary does not have a huge variety of flora. One can definitely spot some shrubs and trees planted by the Forest Department in only one part the entire sanctuary, but as such there is no vegetation cover in the area. It is popular all over India for its huge varieties of birds. The freshwater lake is a natural habitat for over 150 species of birds. Some of the famous birds that can be spotted in the sanctuary include Pelicans, avocets, Flamingos, ibis, spoonbills, little cormorants, coots, red shanks, whistling teals, egret, pintails, little grebes, herons, jacanas, shovellers, ruffs, terns, etc.

Reasons for visiting the Porbandar Bird Sanctuary

Travelers visiting the Porbandar Bird Sanctuary can spot wide varieties of birds flying high in the sky making beautiful formations and patterns. It’s a spectacular view which can only be experienced when one visits the sanctuary. The water birds can be spotted wading and flapping in the large freshwater lake. Even though the Porbandar Bird Sanctuary is not large enough, it leaves a deep impression on every visitor. They are left mesmerized and spellbound by being able to watch such a large variety of birds in their natural habitat. The sanctuary has always been a fascinating place for ornithologists and nature lovers.

Best Time to Visit Porbandar Bird Sanctuary

Porbandar has a moderate temperature all through the year. Since it is located very close to the coast, the climate is favorable at all times. The Porbandar Bird Sanctuary can be visited anytime but however the best time to visit is between October and March, in the winter months. The winter season in Porbandar is quite chilling but is pleasurable where the temperature ranges from 10 to 36 degree centigrade. This is the ideal time when various migratory birds coming from the overseas can be spotted here. These birds migrate here in search of a suitable condition for living.

How to reach the Porbandar Bird Sanctuary

Porbandar Bird Sanctuary is situated within the city of Porbandar which is conveniently connected to the major cities of Gujarat and India by rail, air and road transport. Via road, the sanctuary can be reached in a car, bus, auto, or taxi or on foot. Taking the Chhaya road within the limits of the city of Porbandar, one can easily reach the sanctuary. One can also make use of luxury bus services to Jamnagar, Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Junagadh, etc. Travelers can also opt rail transport by reaching the Porbandar Railway Station which is only five kilometers from the sanctuary. Those who prefer travel by air can use the closest airport of Porbandar which is again five kilometers from the sanctuary. One can also make use of Gujarat Air which connects Ahmedabad and Porbandar.

Environmental Concerns

The people staying around the sanctuary are the locals of the Porbandar city who do not depend on the wetlands much for their livelihoods. The Sanctuary is greatly disturbed by the air and noise pollution caused by the vehicles and the movement of people on the roads near the area. The lake is getting highly degraded due to the discharge of pollutants and sewage. The nearby construction works also disturbs the natural habitat for the birds. The sanctuary is a bit too small to give enough protection to the birds. The complete settlement in the area is still left incomplete.

Things to carry inside the Porbandar Bird Sanctuary

While visiting the Porbandar Bird Sanctuary, one should definitely carry their Binoculars to get a closer view of the birds and cameras to take pictures. But one should not carry any thing that makes a lot of noise like music systems or any type of gadgets that make too much noise. Also one should not go very close to the birds as it can scare them away. In this area hunting is illegal.

Things to carry inside the Porbandar Bird Sanctuary

If you are a bird lover, or a nature lover or one just interested in traveling places, you should definitely take a tour of this wonderful place. Porbandar is strategically located between the two traditional bird migratory routes. This makes it an ideal place where birds of many feathers flock together. So, pack your bags at the earliest and head straight to Porbandar bird Sanctuary in Gujarat. After visiting this place once, you would really want to come back again!

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