Jantapost at 03:29, 23 February 2026

2026-02-23T03:29:21Z

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{{Short description|Bird sanctuary in Jamnagar district of Gujarat, India}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary
| iucn_category = IV
| iucn_ref =
| image = Black-necked Stork female flyingAMSM6458.jpg
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| image_caption = [[Black-necked stork]] in Khijadiya
| map = India Gujarat#India
| relief = 1
| mapframe = Yes
| location = [[Jamnagar district]], [[Gujarat]], [[India]]
| nearest_city = [[Jamnagar]]
| coordinates = {{coord|22.51|N|70.14|E|display=inline,title}}
| coords_ref =
| area_ha = 605
| established = {{Start date|1982}}
| website =
| module = {{Designation list
| embed = yes
| designation1 = Ramsar
| designation1_offname = Khijadia Wildlife Sanctuary
| designation1_date = 13 April 2021
| designation1_number = 2464<ref>{{Cite web|title=Khijadia Wildlife Sanctuary|website=[[Ramsar Convention|Ramsar]] Sites Information Service|url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/2464|access-date=2 March 2022}}</ref>}}
}}

'''Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary''' is a bird sanctuary<ref name=htkhijadiya/> located in [[Jamnagar district]] of [[Gujarat]], India. About 300 species of [[migratory birds]] have been recorded here.<ref name=htkhijadiya>{{cite web|title=Gujarat's Khijadia bird sanctuary is haven for over 300 migratory bird species|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1414923141.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611052815/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1414923141.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 June 2014|publisher=Hindustan Times |accessdate=12 June 2012}}</ref>

In 2022, on [[World Wetlands Day]] (2 February) it was declared as a [[List of Ramsar sites in India|Ramsar site]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary in Jamnagar now a ‘Ramsar site’ |url=https://ahmedabadmirror.com/khijadiya-bird-sanctuary-in-jamnagar-now-a-ramsar-site/81819979.html |access-date=16 February 2022 |work=Ahmedabad Mirror |language=en}}</ref>

==Sanctuary==
The sanctuary is unique having both fresh water lakes, salt and freshwater marshlands. It is spread over an area of 6.05 km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name=c>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gbwc2010.org/showpage.aspx?contentid=17 |title=Brief of Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary |access-date=2012-01-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100925050243/http://www.gbwc2010.org/showpage.aspx?contentid=17 |archive-date=2010-09-25 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="d">[http://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/gujarat/jamnagar/sights/other/khijadiya-bird-sanctuary] Lonely Planet</ref> Before Indian independence, a check dam was built for storing the waters of river Ruparel just before it entered the sea. Over the years with fresh water of the rain and river on one side and salt water of the sea on the other side, a unique area was formed here.<ref name=c/><ref name=f/> On the other side of the [[Bunding|bund]] large creeks flowing from the [[Gulf of Kutch]] are located. These [[Creek (tidal)|creeks]] support [[mangrove]]s and other marine vegetation while on land side of the sanctuary inland vegetation like [[Vachellia nilotica|babul]], Pilu, Prosopis and others are found profusely.<ref name=c/> The sanctuary is located at the watershed of [[Ruparel river]] and [[Kalindri]] at the North East coastal region of [[Jamnagar district]] in the [[Gulf of Kutch]] and has a very special and unique [[ecosystem]].<ref name=e/> Further, as sanctuary is located near [[Narara Island]], and has a bio-diversified [[coral reef]].<ref name=f/>

==Location==
It is located about 12 km away from [[Jamnagar]]. The nearest airport is at [[Jamnagar Airport|Jamnagar]] having daily direct flight to [[Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport|Mumbai]]. It was declared as a Sanctuary on 6 November 1982.<ref name=b>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wildgujarat.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52:marine-national-park-khijadiya-bird-sanctuary&catid=25:gujarat&Itemid=37 |title=Marine National Park (Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary) - Jamnagar |access-date=2012-01-11 |archive-date=2014-02-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201160506/http://www.wildgujarat.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52:marine-national-park-khijadiya-bird-sanctuary&catid=25:gujarat&Itemid=37 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It is the biggest bird sanctuary in Gujarat.<ref name=a/> Buses and taxis are available for going to sanctuary, form where in you have to walk about 3 km to reach inside the sanctuary.<ref name=d/> It is divided into 2 major parts: Part 1 and Part 2 mainly dividing salt waters and fresh waters.

==Birds==
[[File:Lesser Flamingo.JPG|thumb|Flying pattern of lesser flamingos]]

[[File:Great white pelican - Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary 2020-02-25 01.jpg|thumb|Great white pelicans preening]]
One can find both sea and shore birds, Every year over a hundreds of migratory birds species visit here to feed. In winter the sanctuary provides is a panorama of both migratory and resident birds like the [[Grey hypocolius]], [[Forest wagtail]], [[Grey-necked bunting]], [[Black-headed bunting]], [[Greylag goose]], [[European roller]], [[black-necked stork]], [[Great white pelican]], [[Dalmatian pelican]], [[Lesser flamingo]], [[Greater flamingo]], [[great crested grebe]], [[shikra]], [[Indian spotted eagle]], [[black ibis]], [[Blue-cheeked bee-eater]], [[Barn swallow]], [[Crested lark]], [[Isabelline shrike]], [[black-winged kite]], [[brahminy kite]], [[pheasant-tailed jacana]], [[great thick-knee]], [[common greenshank]], [[grey francolin]], [[imperial eagle]], [[little tern]], [[black-tailed godwit]], [[knob-billed duck]], [[common crane]], [[common teal]], [[dunlin]], [[garganey]], [[Gadwall]], [[marsh harrier]], [[northern pintail]], [[shoveler]], [[Whistling ducks]], [[Eurasian wigeon]], [[pale harrier]], [[demoiselle crane|demoiselle]], [[cormorant]]s and [[darters]]. Among the other wildlife found here are [[blue bull]], [[jackal]], [[wolf]], [[jungle cat]], [[mongoose]], [[Indian hare]] and snakes.<ref name=b/>

All the types of nests can be seen here, the ones on tree, on ground and floating nests on water. Varieties of ducks make floating nests. For instance, the [[black-necked stork]]s, which are not found easily anywhere in India, are found here in abundance.<ref name=f>[http://www.topnews.in/gujarat-s-khijadia-bird-sanctuary-haven-over-300-migratory-bird-species-215087 Gujarat's Khijadia bird sanctuary is haven for over 300 migratory bird species]</ref>

According to reports available least 257 to 300 types of migratory birds visit the Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary.<ref name=c/><ref name=f/><ref name=a>[https://archive.today/20130103095430/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-11-17/rajkot/28233024_1_global-bird-watchers-conference-jamnagar-district-gujarat-government Global bird watchers meet at Jamnagar's Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary] Times of India, Nov 17, 2010.</ref> The noted Indian [[ornithologist]], [[Salim Ali]] when visited the sanctuary in 1984 and he reportedly sited 104 species on a single day.<ref name=c/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.migrantwatch.in/location.php?id=1472|title=MigrantWatch: Locations|access-date=2012-01-11|archive-date=2022-11-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103073853/http://www.migrantwatch.in/location.php?id=1472|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Tourism==
Khijadiya was declared as India's 49th Ramsar site, a wetland of International Importance recently on February 2, 2022. This sanctuary provides habitat for over 310 bird species.
People visit the sanctuary, which has now become an eco-tourist village. The birds can be seen here from September till February–March.<ref name=d/><ref name=e>[http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=2011010120110101031831644dec16f6c Bird watchers increase at Khijadiya Sanctuary]{{Dead link|date=June 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> During the [[winter]] of 2010, an International [[Birdwatching|Bird Watcher]]'s Conference was held at Khijadiya.

==See also==
* [[Arid Forest Research Institute]] cater the forestry research needs of the Arid and semi arid region of Rajasthan, Gujarat & Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman-Diu.

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Commons category|Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary}}

{{Bird Sanctuaries}}
{{Ramsar sites in India}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Bird sanctuaries of Gujarat]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Jamnagar district]]
[[Category:1982 establishments in Gujarat]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1992]]
[[Category:Ramsar sites in India]]

Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary - Revision history

Jantapost at 03:29, 23 February 2026