OKHLA BIRD SANCTUARY

A Nature Camp was organized by ECO CLUB of Dronacharya Group of Institutions, Greater Noida on 10th February, 2015 at Okhla Bird Sanctuary, Noida. Dr. Neeraj Bala and Dr. S. K. Srivastava, Department of Applied Sciences and Humanities, along with 51 first year students visited the Okhla Bird Sanctuary. The visit aimed to make the students aware with the diversity of wildlife.

Okhla Bird Sanctuary is about roughly 4 square Kilometers in size and situated at the entrance of Noida in Gautam Buddha Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh. There are more than 188 plants species and 320 bird species recorded here. Out of these, there were 20 common resident water bird species, 44 common resident woodland species and 43 migratory water birds. This predominately wetland reserve (established in 1990) is an important Bird Area (IBA), managed by the Forest Department. The sanctuary seems to be popular with joggers and photographers.

Mr. Manoj Singh, Research Scholar, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi was the trip guide who made the students aware regarding the different bird species and the suitable time to visit the sanctuary. Mr. Manoj explained that the sanctuary basically consists of a large lake formed by the completion of a barrage on the Yamuna River back in the early 1960s. There is one main (drivable) track that follows the eastern border of the park; it is approximately 3km long and links the 2 checkpoints.

Mr. Manoj also gave some important tips to the students to make the visit a learning experience. He guided the students to carry a camera, a binocular and a field guide book to identify the birds to wear dull colored clothes during the visit as bright colored clothing make your presence noticed by birds and tend to scare them away.

The students also enjoyed watching the migratory birds very closely with the help of binocular.

It was a learning experience for the students as it has provided them a deeper insight for nature and wild life. They also explored a diversity of habitats and fantastic for birds and other wildlife.