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Sorsan grassland,
notified as a closed area, is about 45 kms. to the east of Kota
city in southern Rajasthan. The grassland is surrounded by right
bank main canal of the Chambal and the Parvan rivers which
extends over 35 sq. kms., is a treeless area of deciduous bushes
of jhar ber growing in patches on shallow soil. During monsoons,
the grass and vegetative cover becomes an ideal habitat for
Black Buck, cheetal
sambhar, insects and consequently becomes a paradise for resident and
migratory birds. Insectivorous birds like lark, shrike, bulbul, drongo, myna, oriole, flycatcher, babbler, chat, quail,
partridge, robin, weaver bird and munia enrich the avifauna of
Sorsan. The rich food supply and sunny days of Sorsan attract
many varieties of migratory birds. Kashmir rollers can be seen
in the month of October. Flocks of migratory lark, warbler,
flycatcher, starling and rosy pastors arrive by October and stay
till March.
But the main
attraction for bird watchers at Sorsan
is the Godawan - the great Indian bustard. It weighs eight to
fourteen kgs. and stands 16" high. This tall, heavy bird can be
seen walking with confidence and grace in the grassland. It
lives in a family of five to eight but at times more birds can
assemble on a breeding ground. The Godawan has been seen nesting
in the Barda area of the grassland as well as in Jawar fields of
the cultivated areas.
Besides the birds
found in the grassland, one can also see water birds in the
canal, in river Parvan and in the lakes of Sorsan and Manpur
village, saras crane and cattle egret are common near these
lakes. Among the ducks and geese that come to these water bodies
are pintail, common teal, ruddy shelduck, gadwall, shoveler,
common pochard, barheaded goose, greylag goose etc. |