Two Bihar reservoirs built for farms now host birds from the Arctic

Every winter, thousands of birds from Eurasia, Central Asia, Russia and the Arctic travel thousands of kilometres and stop at two man-made reservoirs in Bihar’s Jamui district – Nagi and Nakti.

Built to irrigate farmland in the Jhajha forest range, the reservoirs have become a critical winter home for species like bar-headed geese, northern pintails, red-crested pochards and ferruginous ducks.

In June 2024, they were declared Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention, becoming India’s 81st and 82nd Ramsar sites.

During the 2023 Asiatic Waterbird Census, Nakti recorded 7,844 birds and Nagi 6,938 – the highest counts in Bihar. Jamui district as a whole recorded 18,480 birds across 87 species.

Under Ramsar, Nakti covers 333 hectares and Nagi 206 hectares. The landscape also supports endangered Indian elephants and vulnerable Wallago catfish.

The best time to visit is November to February, when migratory birds arrive in large numbers.