Bird Watching and Migratory Bird Traditions of Bharatpur

Bharatpur's identity is deeply linked to its exceptional bird life, particularly the millions of migratory birds that historically used Keoladeo Ghana National Park as a winter refuge. The arrival of Siberian cranes in the 1970s was a global ornithological event, with the park hosting the last known flock of the central Asian subspecies before their extinction on this route. Local Braj community members developed specialised knowledge of bird identification, behaviour, and seasonal patterns, becoming India's first professional naturalist guides (rick shaw pullers who doubled as bird guides). This oral natural history knowledge blends scientific observation with folk lore: certain birds' arrival dates were used as agricultural calendar markers. The Bharatpur Bird Fair draws birders from across India and internationally, creating a cultural and economic ecosystem around avian heritage.