Bird Walk at Bhondsi Forest, Gurugram, Delhi NCR
- Gurugram
- 15 August, 2026
- Sandy Khanda
About Bhondsi Forest
Bhondsi Nature Park (also called Bhondsi Forest) is a lush patch of the Aravalli foothills about 15 km south of Gurugram city centre, on Sohna Road. It spans roughly 100 acres of forested terrain (although some sources cite up to 558 acres when including adjoining forest land) that includes semi-evergreen woodland, rocky outcrops, scrub, dry foliage, seasonal water bodies, and native tree species like dhak, salai, kadam, and basa. This area is a rich birding spot, hosting nearly 46% of Haryana’s bird species, including both resident birds and seasonal migrants. Notable sightings include the Indian Pitta, Indian Paradise Flycatcher (a summer visitor), Fire-capped Tit (a rarer winter visitor), Grey-winged Blackbird, drongos, kingfishers, and many other warblers and forest-edge species.
However, the park faces several threats. Human intrusion during nesting seasons, especially by photographers who use playback calls or crowd around nests—is causing disturbance and even nest abandonment among ground-nesting species. Other threats include encroachment, road littering, garbage dumping, road-side disturbance, and games or activities being allowed in sensitive bird-nesting zones.
Conservation efforts are underway: forest department efforts have included restoring water bodies, afforestation and removal of garbage, fencing roads to reduce disturbance, and proposals to regulate trekking and visitor movement.
Also, authorities are pushing for better signage and enforcement of rules against disruptive activities (playback calls, approaching nests, etc.).
Bird Guide: Sandy Khanda
He is an enthusiastic bird guide with 2 years of birding experience and a deep passion for wildlife and natural habitats. He strives to make every birdwatching walk educational, enjoyable, and memorable for participants.
Partnered with Green Pencil Foundation
Bird walk Location
Common birds of Bhondsi Forest
Bhondsi Nature Park in Gurugram is a remarkable birding hotspot, with 254 species recorded, making it one of the most bird-rich sites in Haryana. Its mosaic of scrub, dry deciduous patches, water bodies, and forest edges supports both resident and migratory species. Common residents like the Common Myna, Jungle Babbler, Indian Peafowl, Red-vented Bulbul, Rose-ringed Parakeet, and Indian Robin thrive in its varied habitats, while wetland-associated birds such as the Eastern Cattle Egret, Eurasian Moorhen, White-breasted Waterhen, and Little Grebe use its water features. The park also hosts colorful woodland species including Asian Green and Blue-tailed Bee-eaters, Rufous Treepie, Brahminy Starling, Ashy Prinia, and Indian Silverbill, adding vibrancy to the landscape. Raptors such as the Shikra, Black Kite, White-eyed Buzzard, Oriental Honey-buzzard, and Black-winged Kite indicate a healthy food web, while owls like the Spotted Owlet and Indian Scops-Owl underline the richness of its nocturnal avifauna.
easonal migrants further elevate Bhondsi’s importance, with species like the Greenish Warbler, Hume’s Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Western Crowned Warbler, and Blyth’s Reed Warbler frequenting the park in winter. Flycatchers such as the Taiga Flycatcher, Verditer Flycatcher, and Red-breasted Flycatcher, along with wagtails and swallows, add seasonal variety. Even rarer or habitat-specialist birds like the Sirkeer Malkoha, Indian Gray Hornbill, Yellow-footed Green-Pigeon, and Indian Paradise-Flycatcher have been observed, reflecting the park’s diverse niches.
Common Myna
Jungle Babbler
Indian Peafowl
Eastern Cattle Egret
Asian Green Bee-eater
Spotted Owlet
Coppersmith Barbet
Black Drongo
Eurasian-collared Dove
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Rufous Treepie
Ashy Prinia
Grey Francolin
Eurasian Moorhen
Purple Sunbird
Black Kite
Shikra
Indian Pond Heron
Red-wattled Lapwing
Asian Koel
Summary of Walk
Seventeen participants joined guide Sandy Khanda for a walk around the Bhuvaneswari Devi Temple area in Bhondsi Forest, Gurugram, a green pocket on the city’s outskirts known for its mixed scrub and wooded habitat bordering the Aravalli range. The group recorded 18 bird species over the course of the morning, with the undoubted highlight being a Baya Weaver nesting colony in full swing. Participants watched, fascinated, as a Baya Weaver collected long strands of fresh green grass to build its nest, a rare and detailed glimpse into the bird’s construction technique and its efforts to attract a mate during the breeding season.
Beyond the weavers, the walk also produced sightings of the Rufous Treepie, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, and Asian Green Bee-eater, along with Drongo calls that added texture to the morning’s soundscape. The session opened with an icebreaker and a short introduction to identifying birds by call, which helped participants tune in to the sounds and movements around them as the walk progressed through the forest trail. It closed with a reflective round where everyone shared their favourite moment, followed by a Bird Flash Cards game in which participants picked a card and shared five interesting facts about that species, rounding off a walk that balanced observation, learning, and a deeper connection with nature and Bhondsi’s forest habitat.
Number of Participants
0
