AVIFAUNA
Main Attractions: Crested Serpent Eagle, Crested Hawk Eagle, Brown Fish Owl, Great Horned Owl, Jungle Bush Quail, Painted Sandgrouse, Paradise Flycatcher, Whitebrested Minivet, Pigmy Woodpecker, Blackheaded Oriole, Crested Swift, Pitta
Flight Of Fancy
More than 300 species of birds have been identified in Gir
over the years. There are many who believe that had Gir not been a Lion
sanctuary, it could have easily passed off as a protected area for the
incredible diversity of birds it harbours; birds that occupy forest
floors, small plants and shrubs and even the canopy of the trees.
There are birds that feed on fruits, grains and insects, besides the
magnificent birds of prey that are carnivores. Yes, even birds can be
carnivores! Chief among these are the Crested Serpent Eagle, Crested Hawk
Eagle, Brown Fish Owl and the Great Horned Owl.
The Winged Varieties
The Jungle Bush Quail, Painted Sandgrouse, Paradise
Flycatcher, Whitebrested Minivet, Pigmy Woodpecker, Blackheaded Oriole,
Crested Swift and the Pitta are some of the better-known birds of Gir.
Then there are tiny birds that speak loudly and flap their wings faster
than the eyes can see. Such birds, like the Purple Sunbird, work long
hours to gather enough food to keep going.
Having learnt to exploit a variety of food sources has helped the great
diversity of avifauna to flourish. Several species live in harmony because
they have developed slightly different ecological niches (role or way of
life within the ecosystem) foraging at different heights and at different
food sources when in flocks.
Many birds like Babblers, Myna, Rosy Pastors go for hunting in noisy
groups. Woodpeckers with their long tongues move upwards over the furrowed
barks of trees, searching for wood beetles and grubs.
In the forest glades of Gir, beauty of bird-life, its varied songs and
their pleasing bird songs, the graceful flight of the paradise flycatcher
with its white flowing tail swaying gently in the air, the bright golden
yellow colour of the Golden Oriole and the peacocks with their iridescent
feathers bring a sense of life thriving undisturbed.
Interesting Deeds
Witness and enjoy incredible engineering feats like the Baya
Weaver bird's nest, Hoopes with their crest raised moving along the road
sides like mechanized toys gone berserk, and small flocks of Munias,
Minivets, Titis, Ioras flashing different colours playing hide and seek in
the lower parts of the tree canopy, while the Koels, Tree Pies, and the
magpies keep singing at times without a pause.
Then there are the rose-ringed and the blossom headed Parakeets, moving
in flocks, feeding and making a non-stop chatter. Green Pigeons survey the
wonders of their surroundings from the top canopy of large trees after
feeding, and when there are ground fires during peak summer, it is always
the Drongos who are active in catching insects in flight.
In the shelter of the Fig trees may also quietly lurk a Great Horned Owl,
a pair of spotted owlets, looking for potential prey. Any remains of
carcass brings a large number of white-backed, Longbilled and occasionally
the colourful king Vulture. A drive back towards late evening will be
rewarded with sightings of countless Nightjars sitting on the roads.
The Singers
Songsters like the Magpie Robin, Sunbrid, Warblers and
Bulbul, that sing from topmost boughs, can be easily sighted and
unfortunately easily forgotten, for they seem to be singing the same tunes
repeatedly. What one remembers, however, is the Golden Oriole or paradise
flycatcher pouring silver chords from impenetrable shadows. The warning
calls of Nightjars or booming tunes from the depths of banyan echoed by
the great horned owl. The Grey Partridge's loud and insistent calls from
the midst of nowhere and sometimes the eerie silence that befalls an area
at the presence of a lurking predator in the shadowy vicinity.
Birds Of Prey
Any bird that preys on other living animals is strictly
speaking, a predator, or a bird of prey. However, true birds of prey have
powerful claws called 'Talons' for grasping and killing prey, besides
hooked beaks for tearing the flesh.
Birds of prey are divided into different groups. Falconiformes, which
include Kites, Vultures, Hawks, Eagles, and Falcons and Strigiformes,
which include all Owls. Falconiformes are generally active during the day
while he owls mostly hunt by night. The eyes of diurnal birds of prey are
absolutely vital to their existence.
The bodies of birds of prey are small and light in relation to the
wingspan. Large Eagles seldom flap their wings; they pick up a thermal and
then rise to heights from where they can continue to soar with ease.
Kestrels, which hunt over open country by hovering, continually flap and
twist their wings, reducing their efforts by spreading the long tail to
obtain extra lift. 
While hunting, the perched raptor watches the ground intently. The
Bonelli Eagles normally catch or kill their prey on the ground. A
peregrine falcon delivers a glancing blow with its powerful hind claw,
immediately knocking the prey to the ground.
The group known collectively as birds of prey, or reaptors, includes a
generally night hunting order - the Owls, and a day hunting order that
includes the Hawks, Eagles, and Falcons, as well as the carrion feeding
Vultures. They all feed on meat, although the 'meat' for the smaller
species is generally insects, and some feed only on fish. All have
powerful, sharp bills, and all but the Vultures have grasping toes tipped
with curved, sharp claws, or talons.
Migration
Some species of birds are permanent residents, staying in
the breeding area round the year although breeding is strictly a spring to
summer phenomenon. Many tropical birds also spend the whole year in the
same area; some of these, where seasonality is at a minimum, may nest at
almost any time. 
However, many species of birds migrate to escape the cold climes to
warmer places- that is, they make regular seasonal movements away from and
back to the breeding area. This might be no more than a movement from
exposed high mountains down to sheltered valleys for the winter. The
opposite extreme is the long distance migration undertaken annually by
many species, like the siberian cranes who come to Bharatpur in Rajasthan.
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