Kulik (Raiganj) Bird Sanctuary

Thus the migratory birds (Open Bill Stork) started arriving in the early June this year (2011) in the Kulik Bird Sanctuary as the monsoon also started in time. ‘Only one fourth of them have just arrived –in mid-July and total visitors will cross the last years’ record’ - a departmental source says.

According to the departmental sources, this year the nesting time will be mid-July to August and egg laying expected on August - September. This year the late summer and early winters will expected to be the best time to watch these birds. Water bodies around the sanctuary are to going full now because of monsoon.

‘A considerable number of tourists, home and abroad,  already started  visiting the sanctuary and expected to cross last years’ record as well’ – says the booking officer.

Global population of the Asian Open bill Stork is estimated to be 130,000 by Wetland International, and around half of them live in Asia. Kulik (Raiganj) Wildlife Sanctuary is a very important heronry. As per the breeding population data of Asian Open bills, this sanctuary supports 32 - 40 percent of the existing population of Asian open bills every year. This heronry, that supports such a high percentage of Asian Open Bills, is a nationally and an internationally important heronry.