Top Birding Hot Spots in Pakistan
Baluchistan
Updated: 05/20/2006
Information by Birdwatcher's Club of
Pakistan (BCP)
Baluchistan, area-wise is Pakistan's
largest province and is located in the
south west of the country. It is a province with a varied land
structure, although
much of it is barren desert.
It would not be wrong in any way to
call Baluchistan, "The land of Sandgrouses." Of the 7 sandgrouse
species that are known to occur in Pakistan, 6 can
found in Baluchistan. Those 6 sandgrouse species are the Chestnut
bellied Sandgrouse, Black bellied Sandgrouse, Liechtenstein's
Sandgrouse, Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Crowned Sandgrouse and the Spotted
Sandgrouse. The only exception to this long list is the Painted
Sandgrouse, which in Pakistan can only be seen in Punjab and N.W.F.P.
However, by calling Baluchistan "The
land of Sandgrouses" one does not mean that
Baluchistan is a total desert. Infact Baluchistan is home to the
world's third largest Juniper forest. Home to one of Pakistan's
hottest city Sibbi. Baluchistan also has cities like Ziarat and Quetta,
that receive snowfall.
Baluchistan is home to some of the most
interesting species that are on Pakistan's
birdlist. On one hand it is home to near endemics like White throated
Tit, Black headed Jay, paler variant of Long tailed Minivet, Grey
Francolin mecranensis subspecies, Black crested Tit etc and on the
other hand it is home to birds like Dead Sea Sparrow, Sooty Falcon,
Menetries Warbler etc which in the oriental region can be seen only in
Baluchistan province of Pakistan.
Other than these some rarer birds in Pakistan like Common wood Pigeon,
MacQueens
Bustard, Little Bustard, Great Bustard, Cream colored Courser, Whooper
Swans etc have been seen here. Endangered birds such as Marbled Teals
have also bred here.
Places worth visiting in the province
are numerous, however road and hotel
conditions make access very tough. To mention some special sites,
there is the Surkhab Valley, Zhob, Hingol National Park, Hazarganji
Chiltan National Park and the Juniper forest around Ziarat. You can
get more information about these places by contacting us at our e-mail
[email protected].
Please choose a birding site below:
a. Hingol National Park
b. Juniper forest
c. Zhob
d. Makran Coast
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