Migratory birds on a rise in Kulik Bird Sanctuary in West Bengal

KOLKATA - With a huge number of migratory birds coming to the Kulik bird sanctuary in Raiganj, West Bengal, it is growing as a famous tourist spot.

Kulik Bird Sanctuary, also known as Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary, is home to 164 species of birds.

In 2008, according to a census, 91,540 birds had visited the area, and some 70,000 to 80,000 migratory birds visit the sanctuary annually.

“Hundreds of species of birds are actually observed here but we measure and generally concentrate on four types of birds here. These are openbill storks, night herons, egrets and cormorants. Last year, when we counted these birds the figure was around 1,11,000,” said Apurba Sen, Divisional Forest Officer, Raiganj forest division.

Several types of migratory birds arrive here each year from South Asian countries and coastal regions. They start arriving in June and continue till December.

The migratory species include openbill storks, egrets, night herons and cormorants. The resident birds are kites, flycatchers, owls, kingfishers, woodpeckers and drongos.

The tourist inflow is increasing each year, as there has been a rise in the number of migratory birds coming to the sanctuary.

“The Kulik forest is the second largest in Asia. It feels nice to come and see birds here. We have heard that mainly there are four kinds of birds that come here. All the birds are very beautiful but the openbill stork is the most beautiful out of them,” said Raj Thakur, a tourist.

The district administration has constructed the Raiganj Kulik Park, close to the sanctuary, with the objective of enhancing the beauty of the area and to draw more tourists. (ANI)