Bird Walk at Chandu Budhera, Gurugram
- Gurugram
- 25 January, 2026
- Rs 250/- per head
- Fee collected goes entirely to the bird guide. Ataavi does not retain or profit from this amount.
About Chandu Budhera
Chandu Budhera, a charming peri-urban landscape just about 11 km from central Gurugram, sits at the edge of the Aravalli foothills and the Sahibi floodplain, offering a surprisingly rich mosaic of habitats amid agriculture, wetlands and patches of scrubland that fringe expanding development. The area isn’t a formal protected reserve, but its reed beds, seasonal ponds and low hills create a lifeline for native flora and fauna, from hardy grasses and shrubs to resident mammals such as Indian hares, monitor lizards and foxes, and a vibrant cast of insects and amphibians that fuel the local food web. Birdwatchers have made Chandu Budhera famous in recent years with exciting sightings, from uncommon passage migrants like the rare little gull deep inland to impressive waterbirds such as Sarus cranes, drawing weekend twitchers and nature lovers alike to explore its hidden wetlands and reed fringes.
Despite this natural appeal, Chandu Budhera faces significant conservation pressures from rapid urbanisation, infrastructure expansion and the transformation of traditional village grazing lands into built-up and industrial areas, including water infrastructure like treatment plants that support Gurugram’s booming population. These changes fragment habitats and reduce the extent of wetlands and green corridors that migrating and resident birds depend on, especially during drought-prone months when water bodies shrink and food becomes scarce. Conservationists and birding communities stress the need to value and protect these peri-urban ecosystems, advocating for sensitive land-use planning and community-led stewardship so that the area remains a refuge for biodiversity rather than being lost entirely to the concrete sprawl of the NCR.
Bird Guide: SP Choudhary
He is a retired Indian Air Force warrior with a lifelong love for exploring nature and observing wildlife in its natural habitat. With an intimate knowledge of almost all habitat types across the Delhi NCR, he brings deep field experience and a keen naturalist’s eye to every birding walk.
Bird walk Location
Common birds of Chandu Budhera
Chandu Budhera has emerged as one of Gurugram’s most exciting wetland birding destinations, with an impressive 320 bird species recorded, especially during the winter months when its shallow waterbodies come alive. Flocks of migratory waterfowl such as Bar-headed Goose, Greylag Goose, Knob-billed Duck, Northern Pintail, Gadwall and Green-winged Teal dominate the wetlands, while reed-lined edges host secretive birds like Grey-headed Swamphen, White-breasted Waterhen, Eurasian Moorhen and Eurasian Coot. The open mudflats are a spectacle, crowded with elegant waders including Black-winged Stilt, Pied Avocet, Kentish Plover, Eurasian Curlew, Ruff, Little Stint, Redshank, Green and Wood Sandpipers, alongside both Red-wattled and White-tailed Lapwings. Scrub and agricultural fringes add diversity with species such as Grey Francolin, Greater Coucal, Laughing Dove and Eurasian Collared Dove, while the graceful River Tern patrols open water. Together, this remarkable mix makes Chandu Budhera a magnet for birdwatchers, photographers and naturalists exploring biodiversity within the rapidly changing NCR landscape.
Bar-headed Goose
Knob-billed Duck
Gadwall
Indian Spot-billed Duck
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Grey-headed Swamphen
Grey Francolin
Laughing Dove
Eurasian Coot
Black-winged Stilt
White-breasted Waterhen
Pied Avocet
Green Sandpiper
Eurasian Curlew
River Tern
Little Cormorant
Black-headed Ibis
Pond Heron
Little Egret
Summary of Walk
A bird walk was conducted at Chandu Budhera, Gurugram, led by S. P. Choudhary with a focused group of two participants. The small group size allowed for slow-paced, detailed observation and in-depth discussions on wetland birds and their behaviors. The walk covered key wetland and open habitats, offering excellent opportunities to closely observe both resident and migratory species that frequent this important birding site.
The walk yielded an impressive variety of sightings, including Western Marsh Harrier, Bar-headed Geese, White-throated Kingfisher, Eurasian Curlew, Pied Avocet, Grey Heron, Grey Martin, Black Kite, Great Egret, Painted Stork, Little Egret, Black-headed Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Pied Kingfisher, Brown-headed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Barn Swallow, Common Redshank, Sand Martin, Citrine Wagtail, Black-winged Stilt, Red-wattled Lapwing, and Common Sandpiper. The rich diversity observed highlighted Chandu Budhera’s importance as a wetland habitat, and the walk proved to be a rewarding and insightful birding experience despite the small group size.
Number of Participants
0
