Gurgaon: It’s atypical to spot the grey-headed canary-flycatcher in Delhi-NCR right through this time of the 12 months. However, a recent sighting of the species, in a sprawling and serene woodland in Bhondsi, off Sohna Road, has despatched a frisson of excitement during the birding community.
And it’s no longer just the flycatcher however a number of other species, too, that experience in recent times been spotted, among them the Eastern imperial eagle and the Sarus Crane (both listed as susceptible species through the International Union for Conservation of Nature). Meanwhile, the Pied cuckoo, White-breasted waterhen, the Indian robin, the Rufous treepie, the Shikra, kingfishers and participants of the Drongo family, can all be found in the woods here.
Located about 7km from Gurgaon, these 100 acres of woodland land in Bhondsi were always lush green however birds only started flocking here round two years ago. Avid birder Pankaj Gupta, for one, used to be pleasantly shocked to see the grey-headed canary-flycatcher.
“Spotting the species in Delhi-NCR right through winters isn't quite common as the hen usually strikes against the south when the temperature decreases. Its sighting, and that of many other resident and migratory birds, is proof that Bhondsi has good potential to return up as a birding destination in NCR,” said Gupta, who's related to Delhi Bird Foundation, an NGO.
The endeavours of the woodland department to take away rubbish dumps, plant timber, breathe life into lakes, and fence the street (coming from Sohna Road, going to Bhondsi), have long gone a long way against protecting this cover. For, it had, consistent with locals, turn out to be a landfill.
“As folks had loose get admission to to the woodland area thru this street, waste-dumping used to be slightly rampant. Many timber were additionally axed to make manner for rubbish dumps,” printed Guddu, a villager.
And the restoration of the water our bodies, among which is a lake unfold over 10 acres, has performed a key function in the rise of the collection of avian species. Anil Gandas, a natural world enthusiast, has been visiting this spot for two decades now. “There is a huge difference between what the realm used to be some two-three years ago and the existing woodland. While it used to be always safe as woodland through villagers, it used to be no longer very clean,” he recalls. “Efforts to restore water our bodies and afforestation have ensured abundance of water and food for birds, thereby attracting more than a few hen species.”
The Haryana Forest Development Corporation (HFDC) deserves credit score for the ecological renewal of this verdant stretch in Bhondsi. “We first removed the garbage after which the dep. carried out plantation drives in the hole areas. It used to be ensured that water stays in the lakes during the 12 months,” explained Subhash Yadav of the HFDC.
“We are glad to let you know that a birding workforce just lately gave us a depend of 130 resident hen species in Bhondsi — it shows that small efforts to restore forests lead to flourishing of the indigenous flora and fauna of the Aravalis,” he added, proudly. And recognition got here in July 2017, on ‘World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought’, when Haryana leader minister Manohar Lal Khattar inaugurated the character camp here.
Bhondsi is in style for the ashram of former high minister Chandra Shekhar. Its origins can be traced back to 1983, when the Bhondsi panchayat talented 33 acres to Chandra Shekhar to promote the surroundings.
In 2009, the realm used to be handed over to the Haryana govt, following a Supreme Court order. For the closing three-four years, the HFDC has been developing it as an ecotourism web site.
And it’s no longer just the flycatcher however a number of other species, too, that experience in recent times been spotted, among them the Eastern imperial eagle and the Sarus Crane (both listed as susceptible species through the International Union for Conservation of Nature). Meanwhile, the Pied cuckoo, White-breasted waterhen, the Indian robin, the Rufous treepie, the Shikra, kingfishers and participants of the Drongo family, can all be found in the woods here.
Located about 7km from Gurgaon, these 100 acres of woodland land in Bhondsi were always lush green however birds only started flocking here round two years ago. Avid birder Pankaj Gupta, for one, used to be pleasantly shocked to see the grey-headed canary-flycatcher.
“Spotting the species in Delhi-NCR right through winters isn't quite common as the hen usually strikes against the south when the temperature decreases. Its sighting, and that of many other resident and migratory birds, is proof that Bhondsi has good potential to return up as a birding destination in NCR,” said Gupta, who's related to Delhi Bird Foundation, an NGO.
The endeavours of the woodland department to take away rubbish dumps, plant timber, breathe life into lakes, and fence the street (coming from Sohna Road, going to Bhondsi), have long gone a long way against protecting this cover. For, it had, consistent with locals, turn out to be a landfill.
“As folks had loose get admission to to the woodland area thru this street, waste-dumping used to be slightly rampant. Many timber were additionally axed to make manner for rubbish dumps,” printed Guddu, a villager.
And the restoration of the water our bodies, among which is a lake unfold over 10 acres, has performed a key function in the rise of the collection of avian species. Anil Gandas, a natural world enthusiast, has been visiting this spot for two decades now. “There is a huge difference between what the realm used to be some two-three years ago and the existing woodland. While it used to be always safe as woodland through villagers, it used to be no longer very clean,” he recalls. “Efforts to restore water our bodies and afforestation have ensured abundance of water and food for birds, thereby attracting more than a few hen species.”
The Haryana Forest Development Corporation (HFDC) deserves credit score for the ecological renewal of this verdant stretch in Bhondsi. “We first removed the garbage after which the dep. carried out plantation drives in the hole areas. It used to be ensured that water stays in the lakes during the 12 months,” explained Subhash Yadav of the HFDC.
“We are glad to let you know that a birding workforce just lately gave us a depend of 130 resident hen species in Bhondsi — it shows that small efforts to restore forests lead to flourishing of the indigenous flora and fauna of the Aravalis,” he added, proudly. And recognition got here in July 2017, on ‘World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought’, when Haryana leader minister Manohar Lal Khattar inaugurated the character camp here.
Bhondsi is in style for the ashram of former high minister Chandra Shekhar. Its origins can be traced back to 1983, when the Bhondsi panchayat talented 33 acres to Chandra Shekhar to promote the surroundings.
In 2009, the realm used to be handed over to the Haryana govt, following a Supreme Court order. For the closing three-four years, the HFDC has been developing it as an ecotourism web site.
Restored, this 100-acre forest is now a sanctuary for birds
![Restored, this 100-acre forest is now a sanctuary for birds]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
February 11, 2019
Rating:
