Bird Watching at Desert National Park

Famous for avians of all types, Desert National Park is part of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan.  It covers an area of 3162 sq. km and is full of sand dunes and vast stretches of short-crop grasslands. It has been notified as a National Park and all life forms are protected. There are intermediate ponds and lakes as a crucial water sources in this vast desert land.   Despite the fragile ecosystem, there is fantastic birdlife in the park.  The region is heaven for migratory, and resident birds some of which come from far off land. The destination is famous for Great Indian Bustard, and Houbara bustards which are critically endangered.

The Desert Park is home to 180 million-year-old fossils of animals, and plants. Some of them date back 60 million years back that is the time when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. The destination encompasses Jaisalmer and Barmer. 1900 km² is in Jaisalmer district and the remaining 1262 km² is in BarmerDesert National Park covers an area of 3162 km² of which 1900 km² is in Jaisalmer district, and the remaining 1262 km² is in Barmer. The park was gazetted in 1980. The  Indian Gazelle is a common antelope of Desert National Park. Other animals found here are the desert fox, wolf, and desert cat.

Some birds of Desert National Park are:

Common Kestrel

Asian Woolly-necked Stork

Asian Desert Warbler

Striolated Bunting

Black-bellied Sandgrouse

Asian Desert Warbler 

Plain Leaf Warbler

Spotted Sandgrouse

Oriental Skylark

Eurasian Hobby

Northern Pintail

Pied Cuckoo

Tree Pipit

White-Tailed Lap Wing

Egyptian Vulture

Common Snipe

Himalayan Griffon

Great Grey Shrike

Grey Francolin

Chestnut Bellied Sandgrouse

Tawny Eagle

White-eared Bulbul

Black Vulture

Long-legged Buzzard

Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark

Red Vented Bulbul

Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark

Greater Short-toed Lark

Rock Dove

Variable Wheater

House Sparrow

Indian Silver Bill

Desert Wheatear

White Wagtail

Grey Wagtail

Black Kite

Black Drongo

White Breasted Kingfisher

Stork Billed Kingfisher

Isabelline Shrike

Long Tailed Shrike

Pallid Harrier

Black Ibis

White Necked Ibis

Cream Colored Courser

Bimaculated Lark

Graceful Prinia

Peregrine Falcon

Jeep Safaris are organized in the park for tourism purposes. Winter is the best season for watching avian species. The park can be accessed from Jaisalmer and Barmer in the State of Rajasthan. Entry is limited book a desert safari in advance and make arrangements at Dasada near Patdi.