Appeal for action on Keoladeo Ghana National Park, Bharatpur

Yes really great news RADZ, so glad to hear the lake is full and the birds are happy.
We were at Keoladeo Feb 2004 and it was magnificent !!! Flocks of nesting Painted Storks !!! Siberian Crane !!! ergets, and many other big birds. The early morning lake ride in the park was a refreshing much needed change from the hectic pace after Agra.
This park is well worth the visit and support. Its just a hour or two ride past Fatepur Sikri. Plus the town, off limits to cars, is pretty darn quaint. I have fond memories of taking pedal rickshaw rides through Bharatpur by moonlight. Great place !!!!

A new concern . . . .
Now that the Avian Bird Flu Virus has migrated with the SE Asian birds to Siberia, will they give it to their summer neighbors that return to Bharatpur?

Radz

Thanks for the very good news that the Bharatpur area has had a good monsoon rainfall this year. That's a good start to the season but they will still have to feed some water from the nearby dam later on to keep the water levels up. This is precisely what didn't happen a couple of years ago and all the jeels dried out during the nesting season.

Hopefully all parties have now got together and agreed on this.

Bij

The bird flu issue is a very real one. We are even going to have to keep a watch on things here in the UK as many birds make the journey from Siberia to over winter here. Large numbers of birds from the same area also arrive in Bharatpur. It seems many wild birds carry this virus but the problems start when it passes to domesticated species, and from there to humans.

Bharatpur is so lovely!!! Mid-december and lots of water and brimming with life and tranquility ... unique experience of a park without the sound of vehicles too - I really hope they do all they can to protect this little gem

....can see ourselves heading down there on every free weekend infact!

I have not heard any reports of conditions at Keoladeo Park. Is there water? Are the birds coming back? If not, where did they go, and where can I see them?

was there two weeks ago. No water, almost totally barren and no waterbirds. Only a little stretch along the road had water being pumped from a bore well. really sad, i will post some photos later. many deers, blue bulls and jackals though....

The problem of water scarcity in the park and the surrounding villages is leading to a clash of priorities for the state government. Birds only vote with their wings! But people can vote the government out of power.

Well, I will go anyway for the peace and quiet and the fabled hospitality at the Falcon Guest House. I will cast my vote with my person.

Hi,

friends of mine have been there one week ago:

No water, no birds. It is soooo sad!


Well, they saw one owl...

Please use this thread to update the information on the Keoladeo.

Thanks, Meike

That is sad news

I was planning to go there in February so it's good to know about the situation. Is it worth visiting the park if there are no birds?

A friend has been there in the last week of December and gives it a thumb down.

Friends of mine have been there in the end of Dec. 06. They saw 15 species - thatīs nothing...!

They told me that they saw the famous Sarus Crane near the road to Mathura - well, Iīm not so sure if I should believe this, they are not to good in birding...

But anyway at that time it wasnīt worth to visit the park. But I do not know how fast the situation can change?

Meike

I think we may have more birds in noida in yamunna, its just beautiful to see some many birds..

In Dec.'05 I have found lot of birds in Bharatpur. Very sad that there is no bird this year.Actually marshy lands become dry due to making of a dam on the river.Rajasthan Govt. is trying to bring water from a distant place through pipeline. Most probably that work has not yet been completed.At that time a make shift arrangement was done by digging wells and diesel pumps.

We were there in the middle of december last year, i.e. three weeks ago. Yes, it is very dry there now. No water apart from some groundwater being pumped up. There were some birds, but only a fraction of what is there usually. We did still enjoy it a great deal, but if your itinerary is not fixed yet, you'd better go there some other time..