Birding in Banni
During our recent trip to Kutch in the western region of Gujarat, as part of Shira’s textile and natural dyeing research, we spent a day bird watching on the edge of the Banni Grasslands. We were guided by Veerbhai Baibhav Mishra, an expert naturalist from the Center for Desert and Ocean.
The area is one of the largest tropical grasslands in the Indian subcontinent and has been declared a protected area since the mid-1950s. The Banni is an arid and salt tolerant ecosystem with extremely hot summers (temperatures above 115 °F), mild winters (50° F to 75°F), and limited annual rainfall (~ 16 inches) mostly during the monsoon.
We spent the day birding at the edge of the Banni in the Chhari Dhand Wetland Conservation Reserve, an area rich in bird life. This seasonal desert wetland is home to tens of thousands of migratory birds during winter and the monsoon season. During our visit, the most common bird we observed (~easily over 1,000) was the Common Crane.
Most of the reserve was flat and comprised of dry grasses, acacia trees (almost exclusively the invasive and non-native Prosopis juliflora), and dusty and parched soil.
One area where we spent considerable time birding was at a large shallow wetland where we spotted numerous ducks and shorebirds and a few pelicans and flamingos.
The region has a long tradition of pastoralism with past links to the broader geographical landscape of Pakistan, and even Afghanistan. During our travels in the Chhari Dhand, we observed numerous herders tending drought-tolerant and productive livestock - Banni buffalo, Kankrej cattle, sheep, and camels.
The Banni grasslands are facing significant threats, including: overgrazing, changing weather patterns due to climate change and loss of plant biodiversity due to the encroachment of the non-native Prosopis juliflora. I read an article that described the introduction of this shrub, which is native to Mexico and South America, as a legacy of colonial ecological imperialism. Evidently, the British prioritized land reclamation and afforestation, often using non-native species. In 1961 the Gujarat State Forest Department introduced P. juliflora, known for its drought resistance, rapid growth, and utility in combating soil salinity, as part of an effort to enhance green cover and prevent desertification. Today, over 50% of Banni’s grasslands have been transformed into semi woodlands dominated by P. Juliflora.
It was a wonderful full day in the Chhari Dhand and we ended up observing 89 species, many new for me. Here are images of some the birds we spotted - the full list of what we observed for those interested follows the photos and video.
Species list: Northern shovler, Indian Spot-billed Duck, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Indian Peafowl, Gray Francolin, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Laughing Dove, Greater Coucal, Eurasian Coot, Common Crane, Black-winged Stilt, Red-wattled Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Ruff, Termmick’s Stint, Little Stint, Indian Courser, River Tern, Greater Flamingo, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe. Black-necked Stork, Painted Stork, Oriental Darter, Little Cormorant, Black-headed Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill, Black-crowned Night Heron, Little Egret, Great Egret, Gray Heroon, Great White Pelican, Dalmatian Pelican, Black-winged Kite, Greater Spotted Eagle, Western Marsh Harrier, Pallid Harrier, Montagu’s Harrier, Long-legged Buzzard, Eurasian Hoopoe, Asian Green Bee Eater, Common Kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Indian Roller, Small Minivet, Common Woodshrike, Black Drongo, Isabelline Shrike, Bay-backed Shrike, House Crow, Rufous-tailed Lark, Crested Lark, Greater Short-toed Lark, Delicate Prinia, Moustached Warbler, Paddyfield Warbler, Clamorous Reed Warbler, Bar Swallow, Wire-tailed Swallow, Red-vented Bulbul, White-eared Bulbul, Lesser Whitethroat, Asian Desert Warbler, Common Babbler, Rosy Starling, Indian Robin, Bluethroast, Siberian Stonechat, Isabelline Wheatear, Desert Wheatear, Brown Rock Chat, Variable Wheater, Persian Wheatear, Purple Sunbird, Indian Silverbill, House Sparrow, Western Yellow Wagtail, Citrine Wagtail, White Wagtail, Tawny Pipit.
Loved the photography! Wonderful to see so many new birds.
What a list!