Keoladeo Natioal Park glistening in the morning sunlight Named after Keoladeo (Shiva) whose temple lay within its boundaries, Keoladeo Ghana is a World Heritage Site declared by UNESCO in 1985 and one of the ‘Wetlands of International Importance’ under the International Convention on Wetlands held in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971 - the treaty that commits its member countries to maintain the ecological character of their identified wetlands, the Keoladev Ghana National Bird Sanctuary is a paradise for birders and nature lovers. A legally protected wetland under the Wildlife protection Act of 1972, the park is host to tousands of birds belonging to about four hundred species, resident as well as migratory. Covering an area of 29 sq kilometres and lying about 55 kms from Agra on the Delhi-Agra-Jaipur Golden Traingle for toursts, the park is located around the village of Bharatpur in Rajasthan. Asurrreal morning landscape of Keoladeo The ecosystem of the park rich in biodiversity has within its boundary of woodlands, woodland swamps and fresh water swamp. It is a spectacular nesting sites of many species - egrets, herons, painted storks, cormorants, snake birds, pelicans and many others. Wading, waiting, flaming white egret White light descending on a translucent earth Wings that uplift and become one with the trees: The Grey Heron Another attraction is the grey heron (top one below), and Keoladeo Ghana is a world famous site for heronry. Herons are sociable birds that generally nest in long-established heronries. Standing more than 3 feet with a wing span is around 6 feet, they are large, but weigh only up to 2 kilograms. Herons also build their large nests on cliffs and bushes, even on reed beds. With their plumage of grey and off-white, they look spectacular on the ground and in flight. They also come in purple colours. Unreality of a dream: Snakebird Snakebird, also called darter or anhinga, is a large water bird with a slender and long neck. It swims almost completely submerged in water, with only the head and the neck popping above water. Darting snakelike from side to side, it spears the fish. It has a wingspan of about 4 feet compared to its body length of only 3 feet. almost completely submerged in water, with only the head and the neck popping above water. Darting Floating in the luminous light: Snakebird Perched on the water’s edge and waiting for a lightning strike: Blue Kingfisher Rising in harmony and delight: Purple moorhens And of course there is the tree pie, the long tailed chirpy birds that rarely alight on the ground.
