Dora Beel

About

Dora Beel is a wetland and lake located at Rampur no. 2 village under the Palashbari revenue circle and surrounded by villages like Rajapukhuri, Nahira, Bhakatpara, Tezpur, Rampur, Majpara, Kuldung, Dhantola, Bortari and Khidirpukhuri in Kamrup district of Assam. The local folks have referred to this area as “Beeldora” since ancient times. The floodplains extending from this land to Kulshi River serve as a home to over 230 species of local and migratory birds (Survey by Bonyabondhu). Among them is the Oriental Pratncole, a rare migratory bird species in Assam, which is regularly sighted in the Dorabeel area. In addition, this wetland and its grassy plains and water bodies provide a picturesque habitat for several threatened species such as the Himalayan Vulture, White-rumped Vulture, Cinereous Vulture, Greater Adjutant (Hargila), Black-necked Stork, Lesser Adjutant, Knob-billed Duck, Black-headed lbis. Golden Oriole, Curlew, bristled Grass bird, Black-faced Bunting, River Tern, and many more. It is also worth mentioned that India’s first folklorist and esteemed scholar Dr. Prafulladatta Goswami was inspired to pursue birdwatching in this very region, making him Assam’s first ornithologist. He published his book of ornithology in 1969.

Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Photography via Wikimedia Commons.