Rusty's Bio-zone: WADHWANA BIRD SANCTUARY: A RAMSAR SITE NEAR VADODARA

This irrigation reservoir and wetland located 10 kms from Dabhoi & 20 kms from the Jambughoda village, is the water source for 25 nearby villages, and a popular birdwatching site for species including stork, tern, ibis, and spoonbill. To get here you will have to rent a vehicle from Dabhoi, taking the Nanderi Gate road.

Apart from being a wetland, it also has an eco tourism campsite. The best time to visit the wetland is from October to March cause that is the main migratory seasons for birds which migrate here from all over the world.

(Me at Wadhwana in 2018)

Wadhwana is a century old tank, constructed by erstwhile King Gaikwad in 1909-10. This tank has a catchment area of 860 sqkm , deriving its water from Orsang river. This tank provides irrigation to 25 villages. The lake is an important wetland inviting migratory birds from far off places like Siberia and Europe. The place is a good tourist destination for birds lovers from all over the world who come here and enjoy the birds, watching and studying their behavior. There are watchtowers placed at 1 km intervals on the periphery of the lake. Forest dept. has deputed personnel with good knowledge about the local flora & fauna. They have a good quality spotting scope for the bird lovers. For the enthusiastic birdwatcher, it is a delight to visit any time of the year!

Some of the birds seen around the lake: Coots, Ruddy Shelduck from ladakh , Little Grebes, Ferruguginous Pochards, Common Pochards, Greylag Geese from Northern Europe. All three varieties of Ibis- black, glossy & white. Kingfishers- Common, Pied and White throated, common sandpiper, Openbill Storks, Little cormorants, Darters, as well as Pond Herons, Small and medium Egrets, Black Winged Stilts, and the noisy Red Wattled Lapwings are seen. Large numbers of Wire Tailed Swallows fly around the lake. Hoopoes, Paddy field Pipits, Rufous tailed larks and the migrants- common Stonechat as well as white and yellow Wagtails are all present. Black Kites and Marsh Harrier too.