Banni Grassland and Chhari Dhand

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Photo by Wintibird
Banni Grassland

Overview

Banni Grassland is a semiarid area south of the Rann of Kutch in Kutch District, Gujarat in northwest India. Chhari Dhand is a seasonal lake/marsh. Depending the monsoon Chhari Dhand can be full of water in winter or it may be just a big dustbowl in middle of Banni Grassland.
The area is an Indian IBA and famous for its breeding, wintering and passage birds.

Birds

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Notable Species

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Rarities

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Check-list

Birds of the grassland
Birds you can see here include:

Black-winged Kite, Shikra, Long-legged Buzzard, Short-toed Eagle, Booted Eagle, Greater Spotted Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Montagu's Harrier, Pallid Harrier, Common Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Grey Francolin, Rain Quail, Common Crane, Demoiselle Crane, Lesser Florican, Houbara Bustard, Cream-coloured Courser, Yellow-wattled Lapwing, Eurasian Curlew, Laughing Dove, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Greater Coucal, Indian Eagle-Owl, Short-eared Owl, Pallid Scops-Owl, Sykes's Nightjar, Indian Roller, Common Hoopoe, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Little Green Bee-eater, Indian Bushlark, Oriental Skylark, Crested Lark, Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark, Bimaculated Lark, Rufous-tailed Lark, Greater Short-toed Lark, Barn Swallow, Tawny Pipit, Long-billed Pipit, Red-vented Bulbul, White-eared Bulbul, Marshall's Iora, Long-tailed Shrike, Southern Grey Shrike, Rufous-tailed Shrike, Bay-backed Shrike, Grey Hypocolius, Indian Black Robin, Black Redstart, Isabelline Wheatear, Desert Wheatear, Variable Wheatear, Red-tailed Wheatear, Pied Bushchat, Common Stonechat, White-browed Bushchat, Common Babbler, Rufous-fronted Prinia, Grey-breasted Prinia, Graceful Prinia, Common Tailorbird, Lesser Whitethroat, Asian Desert Warbler, Purple Sunbird, House Bunting, Grey-necked Bunting, Indian Silverbill, Common Rosefinch, House Sparrow, Black Drongo, Rosy Starling, Common Myna, House Crow

Birds of Chhari Dhand
Birds you can see here include:

Little Grebe, Dalmatian Pelican, Great White Pelican, Little Cormorant, Little Egret, Great Egret, Intermediate Egret, Cattle Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Indian Pond-Heron, Asian Openbill, White Stork, Painted Stork, Glossy Ibis, Black-headed Ibis, Red-naped Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill, Lesser Flamingo, Greater Flamingo, Ruddy Shelduck, Common Teal, Garganey, Gadwall, Eurasian Wigeon, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Spot-billed Duck, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Ferruginous Duck, Common Pochard, Red-crested Pochard, Cotton Pygmy-goose, Brahminy Kite, Greater Spotted Eagle, Osprey, Western Marsh-Harrier, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Red-wattled Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Greenshank, Marsh Sandpiper, Little Stint, White-throated Kingfisher, Common Kingfisher, Barn Swallow, Yellow Wagtail, Citrine Wagtail, Plain Prinia, Clamorous Reed-Warbler, Paddyfield Warbler, Bluethroat, Rosy Starling

Photo by Wintibird
Banni Grassland

Other Wildlife

Golden Jackals can be seen often. Nilgai, Chinkara, Blackbuck, Wild boar, Desert Fox and Indian Hare may also bee seen. Luck is needed to glimps an Indian Desert Cat (a subspecies of Wildcat), a Caracal or an Indian Wolf.

Site Information

History and Use

Banni Grassland is mainly used for grazing. In the villages around the grassland some farms can be found but the soil and the climate is not favourable for agriculture.
The area is officially protected and managed by the Forest Departement.

Areas of Interest

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Access and Facilities

The next train station and airport is in Bhuj, the capital of the Kutch district. From there follow the SH42 to Nakhatarana where you have to turn right to Moti Virani and finally to Fulay, the last village before the grassland. From Fulay jeep tracks are leading into the grassland and to Chhari Dhand. Moti Virani can be reached by bus via Nakhatarana. Another possibility is the SH45 from Bhuj to the north. Banni can be reached over Jhura and Niruna.
However, there are no roads, only tracks and a local driver or guide is highly advisable.

Accomodation can be found in Bhuj. Resthouses may also be found in Nakhatarana. Another possibility is CEDO in Moti Virani.
Take enough water and some food with you as there are no shops or restaurants in the smaller villages.

Contact Details

Centre for Desert and Ocean (CEDO)
Moti Virani, Kutch, Gujarat, India
Tel +91 2835 221284
[email protected]

External Links

• Website of the Forest departement of Gujarat