Chorao (Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary)

Overview

Mangrove forest covering 1.8 square kilometres, 178 hectares in all, occupies the western end of Chorao island in the Mandovi River, and that stretch is the Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, named for the Indian ornithologist. The island belongs to Tiswadi taluka, North Goa district, and sits about 5 km from Panaji. The sanctuary suits birdwatchers and anyone who would rather spend a quiet morning on the water than on a beach, and October to March is the best season to go.

The habitat is tidal, so the experience changes with the water. Boats work the creeks when the tide is high, while canoes can use the channels at low tide. A raised watchtower gives a view over the canopy, and a paved path runs among the mangrove trunks. Rhizophora mucronata and Avicennia officinalis are among the species growing here.

The birds are the main draw. Striated herons and western reef herons are the common species. Little bitterns, black bitterns, red knots, jack snipes and pied avocets have also been recorded, and the mud holds mudskippers and fiddler crabs. Winter brings visiting species such as coots and pintails, which is why the cooler months reward a visit, and early morning is the better hour for watching. Because access is managed by the Goa Forest Department, ask it about visiting terms before you set out.

The way in is the ferry from Ribandar, a short ride across the river from the Panaji side; the sanctuary lies within walking distance of the landing on the island side. The island itself is small, with about 5,300 residents in three comunidades named Saude, Neura and Britona. It was once called the island of the noblemen, because Portuguese families settled here, and two churches, Our Lady of Grace and St Bartholomew, reflect that past. Quiet lanes and village eateries make it easy to add a short ride around the island, and Divar island, the other inhabited island in this stretch of the Mandovi, can be paired with it.

Dabolim airport is about 30 km away, and Karmali station on the Konkan Railway is about 5.4 km from the sanctuary.

Known for

178 hectares of estuarine mangrove on the island's western end