Uttarakhand Opens Its First-Ever Bird Gallery In Dehradun

The research wing of the Uttarakhand Forest Department established Uttarakhand’s first bird gallery at the Nature Education Centre, Jolly Grant, in Dehradun on July 15. This gallery showcases high-resolution images of Uttarakhand’s birds, giving visitors an eye-catching display of the state’s feathery inhabitants.

Uttarakhand’s avian diversity

Sanjiv Chaturvedi, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forest (Research), said, “Bird Gallery is an attempt to highlight Uttarakhand’s avian diversity and promote a greater appreciation for these unique species. By educating visitors about the numerous bird species and their functions in the ecosystem, the gallery would facilitate conservation of these avian species and create awareness about these species.”

Highest number of bird species

Uttarakhand has the highest number of bird species reported in India, with over 710 species, which is more than 50 percent of the country’s bird species. Some notable birds found in Uttarakhand include the Himalayan Monal, known for its iridescent plumage and also serving as the state bird; the White-capped Redstart, a striking bird often seen near streams and rivers; the Himalayan Griffon, a large vulture found in high-altitude regions; the Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, a vibrant woodpecker species found in forests; and the Black-headed Jay, a colourful and vocal bird commonly seen in wooded areas.

Divided into ten distinctive sections

These species are just a few examples of the state’s extensive fauna, making the state a haven for bird enthusiasts and researchers as well. For visitors’ convenience, the bird images in the gallery are divided into ten distinctive sections, each representing a different category of birds, such as ground foraging birds, raptors, woodpeckers, water birds, pheasants, migration birds, arboreal birds, bulguls, kingfishers, and vultures.

Sophisticated sound system

To enhance the immersive experience, the gallery has a sophisticated sound system that plays the chirping sounds of numerous birds, making the environment more realistic and active.

Variety of abandoned bird nests

The gallery also showcases a variety of abandoned bird nests and feathers collected from time to time by the team of the Uttarakhand Forest Research Wing, giving visitors a closer look at the unique characteristics of these incredible species.