Unusual visitors flock to Okhla sanctuary this summer

Shafaque Alam,TNN | Apr 15, 2014, 05.11 AM IST

NOIDA: While most migratory birds have returned to their native abodes because of the rising mercury levels, the Okhla Bird Sanctuary is getting unusual summer visitors such as the Great White Pelican, the Greater Flamingo and the Pied Avocet.

T K Roy, an ecologist working in the sanctuary, said that with the water level increasing, some birds which had migrated to the wetlands during winter, had returnedto the sanctuary.

"The water level is normal now, making it suitable for water birds. This has attracted some uncommon visitors like Great White Pelican, Greater Flamingo and Pied Avocet. These birds had diverted to other wetlands during winters," said Roy.

Besides these birds, the sanctuary has also attracted some summer migrants like Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Rosy Starling and Indian Cuckoo, and water birds like the Black-headed Ibis, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Redshank, Common Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper and others.

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