Khijadia Bird Sanctuary

Located near the coast of Jamnagar at a distance of 15 km. from the city. Khijadia Bird Sanctuary has an amazingly large number of resident and migratory birds in a relatively small area- particularly during winters. Declared a sanctuary in May 1981, the sanctuary is spread over just 6.05 sq. Km. However, the sanctuary and its adjoining areas bear a remarkable diversity of habitats and ecosystems which include marine habitat, fresh water habitat, marshy lands, mangroves, prosopis areas, salt pans, open mudflats, intertidal mudflats, creeks, scrubs sandy beaches and adjoining farmlands.
Due to its high diversity of landscapes, the sanctuary has a rare distinction of having maximum bird species density in the state with more than 220 species in a relatively very small area. This diversity has a special conservation value as it has several globally threatened species such as Dalmatian pelican, Darter, Asian open bill stork, Black-necked stork, Black-headed ibis, Eurasian spoonbill, Pallas’s fish eagle, Pallid harrier, Indian skimmer, Osprey etc. You may, therefore, reasonably hope to enjoy pleasant sighting of the pristine avifauna in large numbers.
Khijadia Bird Sanctuary is an outcome of two man-made structures (earthen reclamation bunds) in the midst of natural relief features. These bunds have been constructed to arrest fresh water from draining into the sea and to arrest the salinity ingress from the seaside. These dams have neatly separated fresh water from the seawater. Therefore, while you see seawater and related biodiversity on one side, you can watch fresh water and related biodiversity on the other side- with some species sharing both.

Location : Taluka and district
Jamnagar
Sanctuary area
605 ha.
Black necked stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus)
Globally threatened, Black-necked stork is a resident species of the Indian subcontinent. This large stork with black neck, long red legs and black bill forages singly or in pairs. It wades in shallow water and among aquatic vegetation with its bill open at the tip. Normally it breeds in September -December.
Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia)
White all over with black legs and a yellow patch at the base of its long neck, this bird is notable for its long, flattened, spoon-shaped bill. It holds it partly open, dipping into shallow water, and sweeps it from side to side, often as part of a group of birds advancing together, and in this way catches frogs, crustacea and other small bottom dwellers. It frequents pools, marshes and sometimes mangrove swamps.
Flora
Emergent aquatic vegetation includes Typha ungustata, Scripus sp., Cyperus sp. and Saccharum spontaneum. Under water plants include Hydrilla verticellat, vallisnaria spiralis and najas minor and some important tree species like - gando baval, deshi baval, piloo etc.
Fauna
Important birds
Pelicans, spoonbill, Indian skimmer, great crested grebe, little grebe, purple moorhen, ducks, coots, cormorants, herons, egrets, storks, ibises, gulls, terns, jacanas, darter, flamingoes etc. and many raptors.
Important animals
Jackal, jungle cat, blue bull, mongoose etc.
Contact
Deputy Conservator of Forests,
Marine National Park, Van Sankul,
Nr. Nagnath Road, Jamnagar-360001. Gujarat.
Ph: (O) 0288 2552077.