Hello friends, welcome to another interesting blog of Jungle Revives, where I will be describing my complete experience visiting the beautiful Dhanauri Wetland for the first time in my life. It’s a place that is famous for the world’s tallest flying bird, called the Sarus Crane. It’s located 50 KM from Noida, near a village named Dhanauri, and has beautiful farms and landscapes that radiate serenity and peacefulness.
Dhanauri wetland is a hidden birding paradise near the Delhi NCR region, which is less explored and not that mainstream. But again, that’s its true beauty, as fewer people explore it, so it’s not that crowded. It brings you closer to nature in the perfect way, as you get to take your time and explore the region in your own way. But always maintain a safe distance from the birds and respect their boundaries.
While most of the wildlife sanctuaries in India and the Northern part of our country remain closed during the rainy season, the Dhanauri wetland remains open for visitors all year round. You can take your camera gear with you and do some amazing bird photography and videography to capture memorable birding moments.
It’s a perfect place for bird-spotting enthusiasts like me. You should definitely visit it at least once to experience the actual beauty of a wetland and how areas like these are havens for migratory and resident birds. Best if you stay near Delhi NCR. It’s just a couple of hours’ drive.
You can also visit my YouTube Channel to watch the complete video of my visit to the Dhanauri Wetland to have a virtual experience of the trip. So let’s get started with the journey.
Table of Contents
Reaching the Dhanauri Wetland and Setting up My Camera Gear
After driving for almost an hour, I finally reached one of the most famous wetland areas of Northern India.
In general, a wetland is a land area that remains mostly covered with water and acts as the natural habitat for birds. As I reached there and parked my car, I faced strong winds in the open fields and marshy areas.
Every strand of grass was moving with intensity, and as soon as I started to absorb the ambiance of the place, it felt like I was not near Noida but some far-off place that was surrounded by greenery and water everywhere.
I then started to look for a spot to set up my camera gear so that I could take some good photographs and videos. After walking for a while, I found a place that was peaceful, and no movement of people could be seen.
I then got into installing my camera over my tripod, set up some portable chairs, and waited for a while before beginning the exploration of the wetland area.
Spotted Lots of Unique Birds at the Dhanauri Wetlands
As I started exploring the area in search of the Sarus Crane bird, the very first bird that caught my attention was the Little Cormorant. It’s mostly found in ponds, lakes, and areas like these wetlands. It is capable of diving underwater and hunts for fish to fulfill its food requirements.
After that, I walked for a while along with my camera setup in search of the sarus crane. But instead saw another beautiful bird called the Purple Swamphen. This bird walks on water plants and grass, and doesn’t fly much. They glide a bit and hide in the bushes or water as they love their personal space.
I stood there at a distance, enjoying the view of the birds, and captured some amazing birding shots with my camera. Then I proceeded further in search of the Sarus Crane. After a while, I saw a Rickshaw coming from the front, and I asked him how I could find the crane. He guided me with the directions while I noted them for a smooth navigation of the region.
I then started moving ahead as per the directions given by the rickshaw rider, and noticed that a brown colored bird was there near the water patches at a distance. Upon looking closer with my camera, I saw that they were Whistling Ducks. They are easily identifiable with their brown-red body and the whistling sound they make while flying.
Hence, the name Whistling Duck.
Then I Proceeded Further in Pursuit of the Sarus Crane Bird
After a while, when I ended up still not spotting the crane, I decided to drive a bit ahead to another region where there may be a higher probability of finding them. I heard earlier today from somewhere that two Sarus Cranes were active in the region.
The hope was still alive of finding them, as I never give up on spotting my favourite birds when in these types of locations.
After I reached the new area, I spotted a white crane, which is commonly found in the region.
Nearby, it was the red-naped bird, which is also commonly found in this part of the wetland.
Returning to the Same Spot from Where I Began Today’s Expedition
After spending hours in search of the Sarus Crane Bird and not being able to find it, I decided to come to the same spot from where I started today’s bird spotting journey.
Finally, after waiting for a while, the moment came when my sight fell on two Sarus Cranes at a distance. I was thrilled and beyond excited to spot the only birds for which I came so far on this bird-spotting trip!
Let Me Give You Some Interesting Facts About These Wonderful Birds
- They can reach a height of about 5 to 6 feet same as us humans.
- These birds share a lifelong bond with their counterparts and stay with them always.
- During the monsoon season, they nest on small islands where the female lays two eggs and the male guards them from any danger.
One of the Saruses Flew Away, and I wasn’t Able to record it
But since I wanted to get a closer look, I waited for a while until the remaining one came a little closer to where I was sitting. I set up my portable chairs and rested for a bit.
There was so much wind that it made me reluctant to leave the place, and I just wanted to sit there and enjoy the greenery in the surroundings. The only remaining Sarus was a bit far still.
But then, I spotted a lady farmer working in the nearby fields and decided to ask her for directions to get closer to the bird. Following her directions, I reached a farming area where there was greenery and water in the surroundings. It was quite a slippery place, and I had to balance very carefully at every step. On one side was the camera setup that I was carrying with me. On the other side, my feet were completely wet from the water nearby.
The excitement was building up and I was getting happy like anything. Capturing this bird in the Dhanauri Wetland region would be a special moment for me, and I did not want to miss that.
Finally, Got a Better Glimpse of the Only Sarus Crane Bird Present
After stepping into the wetland farms, I tried multiple times to get a better frame of the bird. But every time I tried moving forward, the crane would move forward too. That went on for a while, and it made me realize that maintaining boundaries with the wildlife is extremely important, too.
None of us should create disturbance for them just for our pleasure. I knew that I wanted to get closer to the bird, but in my mind, the bird’s peace and safety came first. I did not want to disturb the crane in any way.
So, I decided not to go any further and tried capturing the moments from a distance.
After a while, I got a clear view of the Sarus Crane. I captured some of the amazing moments of the bird exploring the wetland farms.
Some of Their Unique Characteristics:
- These birds have a red neck and a bare face, which makes them distinguishable from the other cranes.
- They have bright orange-red eyes, and the beak is long and straight. Mostly found in the Dhanauri Wetlands and regions of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. It is also the state bird of UP.
- They are omnivorous and eat both plants and animals.
As I stood there capturing these wonderful views of the tallest bird in the world, it felt nothing short of a fascinating story!
I am grateful that I could share these amazing experiences with all of you through my Platform Jungle Revives and show you what it is like to explore the hidden gems of nature across India.
Now it was time to pack up and return, and with the satisfaction of a fulfilled trip, I decided to head back home and share the stories with my family.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are some of the unique birds you can find in the Dhanauri Wetland Region?
- Northern Pintail
- Mallard
- Common Teal
- Greylag Geese
- Bar-headed Geese
- Red-crested Pochard
- Northern Shoveler
- Painted Stork
- Black-necked Stork
- Woolly-necked Stork
- Purple Swamphen
- Pheasant-tailed Jacana
- Eurasian Marsh Harrier
- Greater Spotted Eagle
- Peregrine Falcon
- Bristled Grassbird
- Oriental Honey Buzzard
- Montagu’s Harrier
These are some of the unique birds that you can find in the Dhanauri Wetlands.
Should I go to Dhanauri or Okhla Bird Sanctuary for Bird Spotting in Delhi NCR?
Both of these are amazing places for bird spotting in the National Capital region, and you can opt for any of these for a quick weekend getaway. While Okhla Bird Sanctuary is within Noida, Dhanauri Wetland is a 50 KM drive, which can take an hour or two depending on highway traffic. But both are excellent places to visit in Uttar Pradesh for bird photography and videography.
Should I carry a tripod Stand along with my Camera setup for Bird Photography in the Dhanauri Wetland?
Yes, you must carry a tripod stand for your camera while going on a trip for bird watching in Dhanauri. That’s because you will be doing a lot of still photography. So, having a tripod stand makes it easier to capture birds while standing at a fixed place.
What is the best time to visit the Dhanauri Wetlands?
It’s open all year round, unlike many national parks and bird sanctuaries, which remain closed during the monsoon season. You can go in any season and spot Sarus Cranes and many exotic and unique birds.
Which is the largest wetland in Northern India?
Harike is the biggest wetland in the northern India in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district. It dates back to 1952 and was constructed along the Sutlej River.
