10 Largest Bird Sanctuaries In The World (And Where To See Them)

As many people know, with the increase in population, us humans need more homes and land to live on. What's most upsetting about our race expanding is we're taking over nature — homes that belong to wildlife. Sadly, many of nature's wild animals are looking for homes and food and the end result is not always pretty, this is is a big reason why animal and bird sanctuaries were made.

These 10 bird sanctuaries are a place to protect different species of birds. They're places where birds (and other animals) can breed, reproduce, and live happily without the fear of their homes being taken away by us humans. Most sanctuaries are actually UNESCO World Heritage Sites, meaning they are 100% protected.

Whether you enjoy bird watching or simply want to be in a place where birds can roam happily, these 10 bird sanctuaries around the world need to be seen.

10 Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary - Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India

Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is also known as Keoladeo Ghana National Park. This stunning sanctuary has almost 400 species of birds. The land is a little over 11-sq miles and offers cattle to graze the land along with protection from floods.

With so many different kinds of birds in this sanctuary, visitors can see all different kinds of habitats; from the wetlands, grasslands, woodlands, and more. Along with stunning birds, you'll also find different species of fish, snakes, flowers, and invertebrates.

9 Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary - Senegal River

The Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Senegal, which is a country in West Africa. This sanctuary has over a million birds and is primarily made of wetlands. With natural lakes and streams around the sanctuary, birds like White Pelicans and Pink Flamingos are often seen roaming and eating.

8 Weltvogelpark Walsrode - Walsrode, Germany

In the lower region of Germany, you can find Weltvogelpark Walsrode — one of the biggest bird sanctuaries in the world. Most of the birds that live here can't even be seen in zoos, so if you're interested in bird watching or have a fascination of bird species, this is the place to be.

Another interesting thing about this park is that you can get up close and personal with some of the birds. Guests can feed penguins and meet rare parrots and maccaws.

7 Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary - Karnataka, India

Created in the 1940s, the Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary has been around for a long time. Over the years, this sanctuary has accumulated over 170 kinds of birds, flora, and small mammals like otters, mugger crocodiles, and the Indian Gray Mongoose.

What's even more beautiful is that in the winter months, thousands of birds migrate to this beautiful land to stay safe during the winter. During visiting hours, guests can also take guided boat tours!

6 Harry Gibbons Migratory Bird Sanctuary - Nunavut, Canada

In the 1950s, the Canadian Wildlife Service created the Harry Gibbons Migratory Bird Sanctuary to protect the lands, due to it being a popular nesting ground for Snow Geese. Over time, of course, it wasn't just the geese that were nesting and growing here, more birds came along in the warmer months to nest.

Being five kilometers wide and 13 kilometers long, the sanctuary is home to Pacific Loon, Tundra Swans, King Eider, Atlantic Brant, and more. Aside from a few water patches, most of this land is meadow and filled with vegetation.

There a few entrances to this special piece of land to see the birds, but all are requested to please respect the land and the animals on it.

5 Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary - Sulatapur, India

India's Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary is just 50 kilometers from Delhi, so if you're making the trip to Delhi for some sightseeing, driving over to this beautiful piece of land is worth it. With 230 species of birds, this bird park is best visited in the winter months when a lot of the bird migrate there. While the park does have some "resident" birds (like the Painted Stork, White ibis, and Green Bee-Eater) there also beautiful birds that come from Asia and the Middle East to eat (like the Siberian Crane, Ruff, and Wood Sandpiper).

4 Kuala Lumpur Bird Park - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Found in Malaysia, the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park isn't just home to beautifully rare birds, but it's also a major tourist attraction. This bird park is separated into four zones, which can get you bird tours, a chance to hold or feed the birds, and just walk around viewing them from afar. This park even has dining options inside and daily activities, which is a great way to get the whole family involved in learning more about different species of birds. You can spend the whole day here!

3 Bac Lieu Bird Sanctuary - Bac Lieu Town, Vietnam

If you're heading over to the lush country of Vietnam, you need to make a pitstop at their Bac Liew Bird Sanctuary. With over 45 species of birds, the land is also home to different kind of fish, reptiles, and mammals — mimicking how life would be had this sanctuary not been a park.

One of your best chances to see the most species of birds would be during Vietnam's rainy season (May through October). While you can make the trek around this sanctuary, guests can also hire guides to lead the way and teach them more about the animals inside the park.

2 Jurong Bird Park - Singapore

Jurong Bird Park is Asia's biggest bird park, with over 3,000 birds and 500 species. Now that's a lot of birds! Guests can hold and feed birds, along with partaking in different activities around the park. This bird sanctuary is essentially a theme park for bird-lovers without the cages or rides.

1 Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary — Gujarat, India

Due to India's climate, this country makes a perfect location for birds who are migrating in the winter months, which is why they have so many amazing bird sanctuaries.

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The Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary is primarily wetlands, swamps, and marshes, but it's home to over 200 kinds of birds, plants, and other mammals (included those whom are endangered). Per their website, one of the most optimal times to view this sanctuary is in the early morning, right before sunrise. This is when the water is at its calmest and the birds are waking up to hunt.