Harike wetland in the confluence of the Beas and Sutlej is seeing a large number of migratory birds, which have arrived here these days here. A large number of bird lovers are making a beeline to watch these birds. The Wildlife Conservation Department has also appointed guides to help visitors in catching a glimpse of these birds.
Harike wetland and bird sanctuary is also known as Harike Pattan. This man-made riverine wetland is spread over three districts of Punjab, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Kapurthala. This bird sanctuary is one of the six wetlands of international importance designated by India under the Ramsar Convention in 1990. Two major canals flow from the Harike headworks, of which one of them is called the Rajasthan Canal.
The Harike wetlands ecosystem, with its rich aqua flora and fauna, is an important conservation area for Punjab. Thousands of migratory birds of more than 368 recorded species, while travelling thousands of kilometers from Siberia, Russia and other cold European countries, come here every year during the winter months.
To provide a peaceful environment to the birds, an area of 86 sq km is a restricted area for the public, where permission has to be taken from the Department of Forest and Wildlife Preservation, Punjab, to go inside the restricted area. During these days, fishing is also undertaken.