Overview
Reading just the word Harike on a written page might easily lead a person to think all that's at play is something about a city in the Punjab state of India. While it certainly is just that, it is not all there is connected with that name. In addition to the City of Harike, there exists, to the east and southeast, just outside the city proper, the Harike Wetlands, Harike Lake, and Harike Bird Sanctuary. All of this combines to make an impressively large location that could easily be expected to produce a memorable birding opportunity.
This natural area, which was designated a RAMSAR site in 1990[3], was brought about from the backing up of water from a waterway project constructed below the coming together of the Beas and Suflej rivers.
Birds
Notable Species
The Harike Wetlands, especially when taking into account the expanse and variety of the location, carries a large potential for a wide range of species for the interested birder.
The overall Harike area has a total of 388 species having reported as sighted along with 21 globally threatened species, and 3 noted as being endemic to the country or region.[1]
In addition, there are 9 eBird hotspots scattered throughout the area of the wetlands, primarily at, along, or near the City of Harike or along its boundary south/southeast of the city.[2]
Rarities
None noted as of 16 October, 2020.
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
Lesser Whistling-Duck, Indian Spot-billed Duck, Smew, Jungle Bush-Quail, Great Crested Grebe, Laughing Dove, Spotted Sandgrouse, Greater Coucal, Gray Nightjar, Alpine Swift, Water Rail, Baillon's Crake, Common Crane, Indian Thick-knee, Pied Avocet, Red-wattled Lapwing, Greater Painted-Snipe, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Ruff, Spotted Redshank, Small Buttonquail, Oriental Pratincole, Little Gull, Common Tern, White Stork, Indian Cormorant, Indian Pond-Heron, Red-naped Ibis, Osprey, Crested Serpent-Eagle, White-eyed Buzzard, Long-legged Buzzard, Barn Owl, Long-eared Owl, Eurasian Hoopoe, Indian Gray Hornbill, Pied Kingfisher, Asian Green Bee-eater, Indian Roller, Coppersmith Barbet, Yellow-crowned Woodpecker, Merlin, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Indian Pitta, Small Minivet, Indian Golden Oriole, Common Woodshrike, Common Iora, White-throated Fantail, Black Drongo, Indian Paradise-Flycatcher, Bay-backed Shrike, House Crow, Gray-headed Canary-Flycatcher, Cinereous Tit, White-crowned Penduline-Tit, Hume's Lark, Yellow-bellied Prinia, Paddyfield Warbler, Striated Grassbird, Barn Swallow, White-eared Bulbul, Common Chiffchaff, Cetti's Warbler, Eastern Orphean Warbler, Indian White-eye, Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-Babbler, Puff-throated Babbler, Large Gray Babbler, Wallcreeper, Indian Nuthatch, Bar-tailed Treecreeper, Common Myna, Indian Blackbird, Bluethroat, Brown Rock Chat.
Other Wildlife
In addition to the large number of bird species that may be found here, it also has been known to have, within its boundaries, some aquatic and reptilian wildlife such as river dolphins, otters, and turtles. [3]
Site Information
History and Use
These wetlands are the result of a barrage created in 1952 below the confluence of the Sutlej and Beas rivers.[3]
Areas of Interest
Among the many interesting points in this area, some of those of particular interest to birders include these 9 eBird hot spots to be found in, and around the Harike Wetland and Harike Lake area. [X]
Churia-Harike-the wetlands–Firozpur
Dineke-Harike Barrage located in Firozpur
Harike Bird Sanctuary–Tarn Taran
Harike Bird Sanctuary–Kot Qaim Khan located in Firozpur
Harike Bird Sanctuary–Makhu Canal located in Firozpur
Harike Bird Sanctuary–Maujgarh located in Firozpur
Harike Bird Sanctuary–Tam Taran located in Tam Taran
Harike Bird Sanctuary–Khara/Harike located in Kapurthala
Harike Bird Sanctuary-Maujgarh near Harike Barrage in Firozpur.
And the Harike Lake, which is part of the Harike Wetlands,
Access and Facilities
Sri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport (ATQ) is the closest major airport, offering scheduled air service, to the city of Harike, which is situated next to the wetlands and other points of interest connected to it.
Be sure to contact a trusted travel professional for specific, up-to-date information regarding travel to the area.
References
- Lepage D. (2020) INnwpb01 Harike Bird Checklist - Avibase - Bird Checklists of the World. Retrieved 16 October 2020
- eBird
- https://www.wwfindia.org/
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Harike Wetlands. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 24 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Harike_Wetlands
Maps
