In the company of birds

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Inhabited all through the year by a variety of resident birds and animals, and visited by hundreds of migratory birds, Sultanpur was declared a water-bird reserve in 1972. And it has only grown in popularity over the years.

There are four machans (watch towers) located at different points to facilitate easy viewing and if your idea of a leisurely day includes walking, a pathway around the lake with your binoculars and a camera offers perfect opportunities to spot varied wildlife.
Some of the resident birds found here are the cormorant, Indian roller, spotted owls, little egrets, the great egrets, black-headed ibis, sunbirds, crested lark, the common hoopoe, rose ringed parakeets, white-chested kingfishers, weaver birds, magpie robins, mynahs, eurasian doves and laughing doves.
Amongst the many migratory birds spotted here in winters are Siberian cranes, greater flamingos, black winged stilt, common teal, billed pelican, wood sandpiper, northern pintails, and long billed pipit. Some of the summer birds commonly spotted are the Asian koel, the night heron, golden oriole, the comb duck and the blue tailed bee eater.
Sultanpur is not all about the birds only. A variety of wildlife have made it their habitat. It is common to see neelgais (blue bulls) running across the lake waters, or black bucks roaming the park. One can also spot porcupines, hedgehog, sambar deer, wild boars, four horned antelopes and striped hyenas abound the park in fair numbers.
Flora is another attraction with the sanctuary full of trees and bushes like acacia nilotica, berberis and neem and others.
Peter Jackson, the famous ornithologist and honorary secretary of Delhi bird watching society at the time of Indira Gandhi's prime ministership, recommended this place to her and it was later allotted the status of “protected area”, with no construction allowed in the nearby area. And the result is you can catch some of the most spectacular sunrises and sunsets here.

The writer is an avid traveller