For most of us, any bird belongs to a particular group. For instance, any small bird frolicking here and there on our courtyards is a “Gauraiya” or sparrow, green one with a parrot like beak is a “tota” or parrot; and a bird with a long beak and extra long legs, often seen near water bodies is a ‘bagula’.

But not for Bird lovers -- They refer to a bird with a precision of a scientist and spot one with a eruditeness of a zoologist (ornithologist would be the more apt word).

That’s why Bird lovers from not only India but from other countires are flocking to Haripura Water Park in Udham Singh Nagar District of Uttarakhand as hundreds of migratory birds from abroad took over the marshland.

Haripura Water Park in Udham Singh Nagar is currently hosting around 140 varieties of migratory birds and the authorities are keen to develop the lake as a hub for tourists. According to the wild life department. varieties of migratory birds flock in during the winters.

The park hosts almost 140 varieties of migratory birds every winter, prominent among them being Pochard, Northern Shoveler and varieties of ducks (all foreign birds). Birds like Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Ruddy Shelduck, Red-Crested Pochard, Common Mergansar, Black Stork, Purple Heron and Indian Cormorant are some of the migratory birds that flock to the lake.

Haripura Water Park is spread over 1100 acres including wetland area.

Why Birds migrate:

Whenever the temperature drops in the cold regions; birds migrate to marshlands in India and settle there because they find optimum temperature there to survive and to give birth to young ones. So they settle down at their temporary home for 5-6 months and then again they go back to their original homes. Since these birds migrate, hence called Migratory Birds. Some of these migratory birds travel thousands of miles every year to reach their temporary homes.
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