Bird walk at Eco Park Pakhibitan with visit to Butterfly Lab and mini bird museum, Kolkata

  • Kolkata
  • 9 August, 2026
  • Tirthankar Roy Chowdhury and Titash Chakrabarti

About Pakhibitan Eco Park

Pakhibitan, Eco Park, Kolkata is a thoughtfully designed bird habitat located within the larger Eco Park, New Town, one of India’s biggest urban green spaces. Though relatively small in area, Pakhibitan plays an outsized ecological role by protecting a mosaic of freshwater wetlands, reed beds, grasslands, and mixed plantation woodland amid a rapidly growing cityscape. Native and planted flora such as aquatic grasses, reeds, shrubs, fig trees, and shade-giving deciduous species create ideal feeding and nesting conditions for wildlife. Along with butterflies, amphibians, and small reptiles, the area supports a thriving bird community, making it a rare urban refuge for biodiversity in eastern India.

For birdwatchers and nature lovers, Pakhibitan is a rewarding and easily accessible destination, especially during winter when migratory waterbirds and waders join resident species. Elevated walkways and watch points allow visitors to observe birds without disturbing sensitive habitats, making it ideal for photography and educational visits. However, as an urban eco-park, Pakhibitan faces challenges such as visitor pressure, noise, littering, water pollution, and habitat disturbance from surrounding development. Ongoing conservation efforts focus on wetland management, habitat restoration, regulated access, and public awareness, highlighting Pakhibitan as a successful example of how carefully planned urban green spaces can support birdlife while reconnecting people with nature in the heart of a metropolis.

Partnered with

Bird Guide - Tirthankar Roy Chowdhury

By profession he is an IT Engineer, at heart a nature enthusiast. He finds joy in observing life in all its forms- from tiny fungi to soaring birds. He lead nature walks that welcome everyone, inspiring children, underprivileged and especially abled to discover the wonder of nature.

Bird Guide - Titash Chakrabarti

Titash is a musician at heart and a nature educator by calling. As the founder of School of Birds, he weaves music, storytelling, and citizen science to make nature learning immersive, accessible, and joyful

Bird walk Location

Common birds of Pakhibitan Eco Park

Pakhibitan, Eco Park supports a lively and easily observable bird community, with around 136 recorded species, making it one of the city’s most rewarding urban birding hotspots. Common sightings include colorful residents such as Indian White-eye, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Asian Green Bee-eater, White-throated Kingfisher, Common Kingfisher, and the striking Black-hooded Oriole, while wetlands attract Indian Cormorant, Indian Pond Heron, and Asian Open-billed Stork. Open grass and scrub areas host Plain Prinia, Paddyfield Pipit, Olive-backed Pipit, and winter visitors like White Wagtail and Yellow Wagtail. Tree canopies echo with calls of Greater Coucal, Greater Flameback Woodpecker, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Red-vented Bulbul, and Red-whiskered Bulbul, while aerial hunters such as the Black Kite circle overhead. Nectar feeders like Purple Sunbird and Purple-rumped Sunbird, along with fruit lovers such as the Yellow-footed Green Pigeon, add to the rich mix, making Pakhibitan a compact yet vibrant birding destination in the heart of Kolkata.
Asian Green Bee-eater
Blue-tailed Bee - eater
White - throated Kingfisher
Greater Coucal
Yellow-footed Green Pigeon

Indian Cormorant
Pond Heron
Black - hooded Oriole
Black Kite
Purple Sunbird
Paddyfield Pipit
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Red-vented Bulbul
Coppersmith Barbet
Common Kingfisher
Common Tailorbird
Black-crowned Night Heron
Spotted Dove
Red-whiskered Bulbul
Long-tailed Shrike

Summary of Walk

On 9th August 2026, a bird walk was organised at Eco Park Pakhibitan with a visit to the Butterfly Lab and mini bird museum, Kolkata, jointly guided by Tirthankar Roy Chowdhury and Titash Chakrabarti of BWS School of Birds in collaboration with Nature Mates, with 15 participants taking part. The session began with a visit to the Eco Park butterfly enclosure, where experts introduced participants to various butterfly species, their life stages, and their nectar and host plants, adding a wonderful multi-species dimension to the outing before the group moved on to the Pakhibitan wetland area for birding. The birdwatching segment proved engaging, with the group recording 19 species overall. The Black Bittern and Cinnamon Bittern stayed mostly tucked away, making their eventual sightings by several sharp-eyed participants all the more rewarding, with some even managing photographs. Everyone enjoyed good views of Barbets, Orioles, and Asian Openbills circling gracefully overhead, with the guides explaining the aerodynamics of their soaring flight without flapping. A particularly heartwarming moment came from the youngest participant, five-year-old Adi, whose endless curiosity and questions about birds and butterflies delighted the whole group. The combination of birding and butterfly-watching made for a rich and memorable morning at Eco Park.
Number of Participants
0
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ATAAVI Bird Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering a deeper connection between people and the avian diversity of India. Through advocacy, education and conservation efforts, we strive to increase awareness and appreciation for birds across communities.

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