Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary

Overview

The Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is the smallest wildlife sanctuary in Goa but it is a paradise for birth watchers as a wide array of migratory birds can be spotted around the sanctuary. Inside the sanctuary, you will find a three-storeyed watchtower, which has been built to facilitate birdwatching. This tower offers an enchanting view of the sanctuary at three different levels. You can get a panoramic view of the area at the canopy level, below the canopy level and above the vegetation.

Highlights

• Named after the prominent ornithologist Dr. Salim Ali

• Spread across an area of 1.8 sq. km.

• There’s a three-storeyed watchtower, which has been built to facilitate birdwatching

• You can expect to see colourful kingfishers, eagles, cormorants, kites, woodpeckers, sandpipers, curlews, drongos and mynahs on a fairly regular basis

• Other, more rare inhabitants of the sanctuary include the little bittern, black bittern, red knot, jack snipe and pied avocet (on transient sandbanks)

• The migratory birds that make their home here include coots and pintails ducks

• Some species of reptiles and crustaceans make their home amongst the mangroves

• These include mudskippers, fiddler crabs, crocodiles, otters, flying foxes and jackals

• The sanctuary has a well-equipped Nature Research Centre, which is available for public use so that you can gain further insight into animal and bird life