Birds occupy a very significant place in Indian culture and tradition. The steed of Lord Vishnu, the Preserver of the Universe, is a giant bird. The epic Ramayana tells of a bird injured trying to rescue the kidnapped wife of Lord Rama. The bird song of the koel signifies the end of winter. The cawing of a crow indicates the arrival of guests - the inclusion of birds in myths and superstitions is endless. And no wonder - there are more than 1200 species of birds in nearly 2100 forms native to India with a large number of migratory birds visiting during the winter months. No wonder ancient love songs tell of birds carrying messages to the distant beloved! There are a number of wildlife sanctuaries in the country where the bird enthusiast can see the wonder of Indian avian life. For instance, the Bharatpur bird sanctuary whose marshes provide a huge breeding area for native water birds and a temporary home to a large number of migratory birds, including the Siberian crane in the winter months. The adjoining Thar desert boasts of the Great Indian bustard while the Corbett National Park in the foothills of the Himalayas houses 585 species of birds, greater than the total number of bird species found in Europe, in an area of just about 520 sq km. In Andaman and Nicobar’s six national parks and over ninety wildlife sanctuaries, about 250 species and sub-species of birds can be seen. Some of the wildlife sanctuaries a keen birdwatcher should visit and the birds which can be seen there are described below.

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