Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary

The sanctuary is unique having both fresh water lakes, salt and freshwater marshlands. It is spread over an area of 6.05 km2. Before Indian independence, a check dam was built for storing the waters of river Ruparel just before it entered the sea.

One can find both sea and shore birds, here like Black neck Stork, Great Crested Grebe, Shikra, Lesser spotted Eagle, Black Ibis, Black-winged Kite, Brahminy Kite, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Great Thick-Knee, Common Greenshank, Grey Francolin, Imperial Eagle, Little Tern, Black-tailed Godwit, Comb Duck, Common Crane, Common Teal, Dunlin, Garganey, Marsh Harrier, Northern Pintail, Shoveler, Eurasian Wigeon, Pale Harrier, Demoiselle, Cormorants and Darters. Among the other wild life found here are Blue Bulls, Jackal, Wolf, Jungle Cat, Mongoose, Indian hare and snakes

The Khijadiya lakes are formed by reclamation bounds which were built during the erstwhile state regime. After independence these bunds were repaired and strengthened to prevent the salinity ingress.