Birds of Gir Sanctuary and National Park

Almost 300 species of birds have been sighted in the Gir forests over the years. Some even say, had it not been home to the Asiatic Lion, Gir would have been famous for being one of the best birding spots in India.

You can easily spot these birds in the park : Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Green Bee Eater, Copper Smith Barbet, Cattle Egret, Black Drongo, Indian Robin, Common Kingfisher, Black Shouldered Kite, Oriental Magpie Robin, Rufous Treepie, Plum Headed Parakeet, Shikra, Rose Ringed Parakeet, Indian Peafowl, Oriental White Ibis, Black Headed Ibis, Oriental White Eye, Indian Pond Heron, Red Headed Ibis, Sunbird, Warblers, Bulbuls, Golden Oriole, Jungle Bush Quail, Crested Swift, Painted Sandgrouse, Pigmy Woodpecker, Whitebrested Minivet, Blackheaded Oriole, Paradise Flycatcher, Indian Nightjars and many more.

Six species of vultures are found in Gir and so are many eagles and raptors. Other birds of prey usually spotted include Bonelli’s Eagle, Crested Hawk Eagle, Indian Eagle-Owl, Crested Serpent Eagle, Peregrine Falcons, Tawny Eagle, Imperial Eagle, Red-Headed Falcon, etc.

Some owls like the Brown Fish Owl, Eurasian Eagle Owl, Spotted Owlet have also been seen.

Flora and Fauna at Gir National Park, Gujarat

More than 507 species of plants have been recorded in the Gir forests. Mainly classified as Teak forest, it’s interesting to note that Teak bearing areas are mostly in the eastern parts of the forest and still they manage to cover almost half of the total area. Other plants commonly found here include acacia, ber, jamun, babul, flame of the forest, zizyphus, tendu, dhak, karanj, umlo, amli, sirus, kalam, charal and an occasional banyan tree.

As for the fauna, almost 38 species of mammals, 37 of reptiles, almost 300 of birds and more than 2000 species of insects are found here.
The most prominent of the lot is the Asiatic Lion. Among other animals found in this area, these are usually seen:  Indian Leopard, Jungle Cat, Striped Hyena, Golden Jackal, Indian and Ruddy Mongoose, Honey Badger, Desert Cats, and Rusty-spotted Cats.

Herbivores include chital, nilgai, sambar, four-horned antelope, chinkara and wild boar.  Mugger crocodile, Indian cobra, tortoise and monitor lizard are also found.

Other Activities to enjoy at Gir National Park

There are many interesting things to do outside of Sasan-Gir you know? For instance, you can go visit these places and revel in their beauty and mystic charm.

• Somnath Temple: One of the most ancient and rich temples of India, it’s situated at just 46 km from Gir. It’s one of the 12 most important shrines of Lord Shiva.
• Junagarh Zoo: Established in 1863 with the objective of saving the lions from extinction, it has now been turned into a safari park. It also houses a museum that displays several paintings and manuscripts.
• Uperkot Fort: Built by Chandra Gupta Maurya in 319 BC, this fort has been a part of huge a chunk of history. It was rediscovered out of an overgrown jungle after being abandoned for over 3 centuries from the 7th century to the 10th.
• Durbar Hall Museum: It’s situated near the Diwan Chowk in the old palace and stores some of the rarest items of previous Nawabs like weapons, armors, chandeliers, and palanquins.
• Crocodile Breeding Centre: Located near the Sinh Sadan, this center offers you a window to know and learn all about crocodiles, their rearing and breeding and how to conserve them.

Another interesting thing to experience on your trip to the Gir is tribal festivals. There are two tribal communities living in Gir, namely, Maldharis and Siddhis. Every year they organize festivals keeping tourists in mind, thus, giving them a chance to know and experience the tribal culture. Dang Darbar is celebrated a few days before Holi and Chitra Vichitra fair is held almost a fortnight after Holi. If you want a taste of new culture, do plan your trip around this time.

Best Time to visit

The park is closed from mid-June to September as this is the time when the southwest monsoon arrives. An amazing time to visit would be from December to March, as the weather lines up nicely and you can spot the migrating birds too.