Bird Walk at Paniyajob Dam, Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh
- Rajnandgaon
- 14 December, 2025
- Pratik Thakur
About Paniyajob Dam
Paniyajob Dam is located in the Rajnandgaon district and consists of a large reservoir surrounded by agricultural fields, scrublands, and scattered forest patches. The waterbody supports aquatic vegetation and mudflats during lower water levels while the surrounding landscape provides a mix of open and wooded habitats. Its rural setting makes it relatively undisturbed compared to city wetlands.
The dam attracts a variety of birds such as ducks, geese, herons, storks, bee eaters, raptors, and winter migrants. It also supports freshwater fish, amphibians, and reptiles common to central India. Conservation challenges include overfishing, water fluctuation, agricultural runoff, and human activities near the shoreline. Protecting shoreline vegetation and monitoring encroachments are essential for maintaining bird richness.
Partnered with
Bird walk Location
Bird Guide: Pratik Thakur
This bird guide is based on over five years of dedicated birdwatching experience, documenting more than 280 bird species from the region.
Common birds of Paniyajob Dam
Paniyajob Dam, with around 100 species recorded, offers a rich mix of woodland, scrub, and wetland birds that thrive around its reservoir and surrounding forest patches. The area regularly hosts drongos such as Greater Racket tailed Drongo, Black Drongo, and White bellied Drongo, along with woodpeckers like Black rumped Flameback and Brown capped Pygmy Woodpecker tapping through the trees. Wetland edges attract Pond Heron, Cattle Egret, and Black naped Ibis, while open areas and groves support Red vented Bulbul, Plum headed Parakeet, Indian White Eye, Spotted Dove, and Oriental Magpie Robin. Forest trails often reveal Black naped Monarch, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, White browed Fantail, Jungle Owlet, Common Hoopoe, Coppersmith Barbet, and the distinctive Indian Grey Hornbill. Together, these birds highlight the dam’s value as a peaceful and biodiverse birding spot in Chhattisgarh.
Greater-racket tailed Drongo
Ashy Drongo
Indian Pond Heron
Eastern Cattle Egret
Asian Green Bee-eater
Black-rumped Flameback
Coppersmith Barbet
Little Cormorant
Indian Grey Hornbill
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Black Drongo
Eurasian Coot
Little-ringed Plover
Eurasian Moorhen
White-throated Kingfisher
Black-naped Monarch
Tickell's Blue Flycatcher
Red-vented Bulbul
Red-wattled Lapwing
Purple Sunbird
Summary of Walk
The bird walk at Paniyajob Dam led by Pratik Thakur saw enthusiastic participation from 23 birdwatchers, making it a lively and engaging field experience. The group explored the wetland and surrounding habitats, carefully observing and documenting the avian diversity present at the site. In total, 29 bird species were recorded during the walk, highlighting the rich birdlife and ecological importance of Paniyajob Dam.
The major highlights of the walk included exciting sightings of the Verditer Flycatcher, Alpine Swift, and River Tern, which drew special attention from the participants. These notable records added significant value to the outing and reinforced the dam’s importance as a key birding location. Overall, the walk successfully combined learning, observation, and conservation awareness, leaving participants with memorable and rewarding field experiences.
Number of Participants
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