The geographical location of Bharatpur is ideal, since it is on the main North - South avian route of India. The park covers the total area of 29.89 kms including lakes.
Colourful Kingfishers, graceful pelicans, rare Siberian cranes and Trans continental fliers, the migratory water fowls are amongst the 375 species of birds found in this internationally acclaimed, Keoladev National Park. The most spectacular are the 10,000 nests build by the egrets, storks, herons and the cormorants, every year.
During the British Empire, Bharatpur was known as the best duck shooting resort. The Government declared it as a national reserve for birds in 1956. In 1981 this 30 sq. kms of land was upgraded to a national park. Being a unique bird dwelling place, the UNESCO has recognized it as a world heritage site. It is India's best water - bird sanctuary. A paradise of feathered life, this park is a treat for birdwatchers, nature lovers, artists, biologists and photographers.
The park comes alive with the first showers of monsoon, when thousands of birds like the egrets, storks, darters, ibises, herons, spoonbills, jacanas and other birds get busy courting, mating and nesting.
Apart from the Saras cranes, migratory bareheaded water fowls and the grey lag geese, there are many types of ducks too in this park. Pintail, widgeon, common shel duck, ruddy shel duck. Shoveller, garganey, teal, green winged teal, mallard and pochards are the ones to name a few. Attracted by the heavy influx of the water - fowl, the predatory birds like the tawny eagle, spotted eagle, short toed eagle, imperial eagle and the fishing eagles frequent this place.
All together they form an apex of the biological pyramid of the sanctuary and complete the food chain of the eco-system. Other than birds, one can also see herds of Nilgai, chital, wild boar, feral cows and sambhar.
