Rajkot: A relatively lesser-known bird sanctuary tucked away in Devbhumi Dwarka district has quietly emerged as one of Gujarat’s most important avian habitats. The latest bird census at Gaga Bird Sanctuary has recorded an impressive 65,000 birds belonging to 202 species, underscoring the sanctuary’s growing significance as a critical stopover and wintering ground along the Central Asian Flyway.The findings represent a substantial increase over the previous census conducted in 2024-25 — the first such exercise at the sanctuary in this century — which documented 50,000 birds from 181 species. Encouraged by the results, forest officials are now working towards developing the sanctuary into a nature education centre for students in the near future.Located near Gaga village in Kalyanpur taluka, the sanctuary spans just 3.3 sq km. Despite its modest size, it supports remarkable biodiversity thanks to its unique mosaic of wetlands and grasslands, surrounded by agricultural fields, saltpans and wastelands.Over the years, the sanctuary has increasingly attracted birdwatchers, researchers and ecologists. “It is home to flagship resident species such as the black-necked stork and hosts large congregations of pelicans and flamingoes. It also provides a vital winter refuge for migratory birds travelling along the Central Asian Flyway, including the common crane and demoiselle crane,” said Arun Kumar V, deputy conservator of forests, Devbhumi Dwarka.Among the sanctuary’s prized attractions is the rare hypocolius, an elusive winter visitor highly sought after by birdwatchers. The presence of raptors such as the black-winged kite is also considered an indicator of the area’s healthy ecosystem.Forest officials attribute the encouraging census results to a series of habitat improvement measures undertaken in recent years. These include the removal of invasive Prosopis juliflora to restore native grasslands, desilting of wetlands to enhance water retention, and the creation of earthen mounds and elevated islands that provide safe roosting and nesting sites for birds.To further strengthen the sanctuary’s ecological resilience, the Forest Department has proposed several new initiatives. These include setting up protection chowkis to improve surveillance and anti-poaching efforts, constructing watchtowers for monitoring and regulated nature observation, and implementing soil and moisture conservation works, including earthen bunds, to help sustain wetland habitats during dry periods.Officials believe these measures will not only safeguard resident bird populations but also ensure that thousands of migratory birds continue to find refuge here during their long cross-continental journeys.“The success of the 2025-26 census reaffirms Gaga Bird Sanctuary’s status as a vital centre for biodiversity conservation, ecological research and nature-based tourism in Gujarat,” said Arun Kumar V.
