Bird Walk at Pumping Station – Yashwant Sagar, Indore, MP

Name: Bird Walk at Pumping Station – Yashwant Sagar, Indore, MP
Start: 2026-01-11T08:00:00+05:30
End: 2026-01-11T10:00:00+05:30

About Pumping Station - Yashwant Sagar

The Pumping Station at Yashwant Sagar near Indore is nestled along the shores of one of central India’s most cherished wetlands — a sprawling freshwater reservoir built on the Gambhir River in the 1930s that now covers over 800 ha and serves as a lifeline for water supply, irrigation and fishing in the region. Designated a Ramsar site and Important Bird Area (IBA), Yashwant Sagar’s mosaic of open water, shallow backwaters and reed-lined edges creates a rich habitat for aquatic plants, lotus beds and emergent vegetation that support an astonishing array of wildlife. Visitors to the pumping station area often find themselves surrounded by the rhythmic calls of waterbirds and raptors, with the shimmering reservoir waters reflecting waders, herons, egrets and the elegant silhouettes of Sarus Cranes — central India’s iconic and vulnerable crane species. During winter and migration seasons, this habitat becomes even more vibrant as waterfowl and migratory shorebirds find refuge in its shallow pools and islands created by receding water.

The birdlife spectacle here draws local birders and nature lovers, yet Yashwant Sagar’s ecological value is increasingly under strain. Despite its international recognition, agricultural expansion, pesticide runoff, unregulated fishing and disturbances from boating and shoreline encroachments are altering habitat quality, contributing to declines in key species like the Sarus Crane and raising concerns among conservationists about long-term health and biodiversity. Efforts to balance sustainable use with protection — including clearer wetland demarcation, community awareness and stronger habitat regulations — are essential to ensure that this beautiful wetland continues to thrive as a haven for birds and a natural jewel on the outskirts of Indore.

Bird walk Location

Common birds of Pumping Station - Yashwant Sagar

The Pumping Station area at Yashwant Sagar, Indore offers a rich and rewarding snapshot of the wetland’s birdlife, with common species providing constant activity across land and water. Around the open grounds and scrub, Rock Pigeons, Laughing Doves, House Sparrows, Indian Silverbills, Scaly-breasted and Red Munias, Bush Larks and Sparrow Larks forage in flocks, while Ashy Prinias, Indian Robins, Indian Chats and Canary-headed Flycatchers animate the bushes with movement and song. The skies and wires are often claimed by Wire-tailed Swallows, Green Bee-eaters, Long-tailed Shrikes and Pied Starlings, adding flashes of colour and drama. Along the water’s edge and shallow pools, Spot-billed Ducks, Pond Herons, Great, Intermediate and Little Egrets, Oriental Darters, Indian Cormorants and White-breasted Waterhens are regular sights, joined by elegant White-winged Stilts, Red-wattled Lapwings, River Terns and seasonal visitors like Ruff and Common Snipe. This everyday abundance forms the backbone of Yashwant Sagar’s impressive bird diversity — part of a remarkable checklist of over 216 bird species that makes the pumping station a favourite stop for birders exploring this celebrated wetland.