Context:- Recently, Jharkhand’s Udhwa Bird Sanctuary was in news with the ongoing speculations of it getting the prestigious Ramsar Site status.
About Udhwa Bird Sanctuary:-
- It is situated in the Sahebganj district of the state of Jharkhand.
- It is the only notified bird sanctuary in the state and named after saint Uddhava of Mahabharat times, a friend of Lord Krishna.
- It falls within the Gangetic Plains bio-geographic zone.
- The Sanctuary has two water bodies i.e. Patauran (155 ha) and Berhale (410 ha), interconnected by a water channel.
- The Sanctuary is connected to the Ganga River through a 25 km long water channel known as the Udhuwa Nala, at Farraka.
- The Sanctuary has been identified as an ‘Important Bird Area’.
- Among birds of prey are Tern, Brahminy Kite, Fishing Eagle, Hawk and Vulture. House and Palm Swift, Swallow, Kingfisher, Drongo.
- Indian Roller and Parakeet are also common here.
- Migratory birds visiting the lake during winter include Black-headed & Brown-headed Gulls, Grey-headed Lapwing, Little-ringed Plover, Red & Green Shanks, Spotted Green Shanks, Common Sandpiper, Temmink’s Stint, Yellow & White Wagtail, Blue-throat, Western Swallow etc.
