The birds abound but the search is for the tiger. This is a mistake most of the wildlife lovers make whence they visit a tiger reserve in Central India. This happens everywhere even at Tadoba which has recently become most popular destination for tourism.
The tiger is enchanting and everybody wishes to see one. But if you are solely concentrating on one animal you miss many other species especially the birds at Tadoba. The place abounds with avian species and they are everywhere. They can be found in the forests, amidst bamboo clumps, grasslands, rivers, ponds and lakes and also in the surroundings outside the National Park.
Albeit in the tiger reserves most of the species found are those that dwell amidst the trees and grasslands. But if there are sufficient water bodies, rivers and other wetlands the chances of migratory shore and deep diving species being sighted is very high. Hence for birders the mix of habitats results in checklisting a vast number of species during a safari or a nature walks in the precincts of the reserve.
Hence this is the way a bird tour is organised at Tadoba. A few rounds of tiger safari in the park is mixed with nature walks in the forest periphery, village fields and a drive to a large wetland. This way the trip is sure to result in high number of sightings of avian species. If you have a good birding guide your trip is going to be big success.
Some of the species seen while touring this reserve are shown in the photographs below:
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| Black Shouldered Kite |
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| Blue Bearded Beeeater |
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| Brown Fish Owl |
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| Spotted Owlet |
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| Serpent Eagle |
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| Lesser Whistling Teal |
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| Red Jungle Fowl |
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| Racket Tailed Drongo |
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| Ashy Sparrow Finch Lark |
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| Ashy Prinia |
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| Yellow Eyed Babbler |
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| Banded Bay Cuckoo |
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| Coppersmith Barbet |
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| Bar Headed Geese |
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| Baya |
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| Black Francolin |
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| Black Headed Bunting |
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| Bhamani Myna |
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| Black Ibis |
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| Black Headed Oriole |
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| Black Lored Tit |
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| Black Naped Flycatcher |
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| Black Stork |
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| Black Rumped Flameback |
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| Female Redstart |
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| Indian Vulture |
The best season for birding at Tadoba is the winter time. This is the period whence most of the migratory species arrive here. But in summer with the canopy reducing down it becomes the place to find the resident species in open. Hence for resident bird photography early summer is the best time. Bird photographers should take note of this.
For excursions in the core zone a permit is required which can be arranged by the hotel you are staying at.
Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve is near Chandrapur which is about one hundred fifty km from Nagpur Airport in the State of Maharashtra in India.
