From concrete to canopy: How Noida's Biodiversity Park turned a bird paradise
Noida: The whistling call of a rain quail pierces through the urban cacophony of Sector 91. It's an unlikely sound in this concrete jungle, but one that's becoming increasingly familiar with visitors of the Noida Biodiversity Park, which has emerged as the city's newest hub for bird enthusiasts.
"I thought I was imagining it. The rain quail is mostly found in the grasslands. Hearing it here in the middle of high-rises was a pleasant surprise," recalls Afshan Hussain, describing her first encounter with the elusive bird during an evening walk in 2020.
Over the past few years, the park has transformed from a simple recreational space to a thriving observation point for winged guests from across borders. Apart from the rain quail, Afshan has spotted several uncommon birds, such as the thick-billed flowerpecker and paradise flycatcher.
"The grey-bellied cuckoo is not uncommon in this region, but it is very difficult to find it in the city area. This speaks much about how the habitat has changed. People usually go birding in Dhanauri, Surajpur, or Okhla. But some of us have started visiting this Sector 91 park regularly," she says.
Developed by Noida Authority for Rs 37 crore and inaugurated in July 2019, this 110-acre park is the result of meticulous ecological planning.
Nestled between the high-rises of Sector 137 and the residential lanes of Sector 93, it offers 70 acres of developed area with cycling tracks, walking trails, gazebos, and a water body.
The park's unique feature, however, lies in its scientific design. There are four distinct biomes based on Yamuna floodplain's geology — Kohi (hilly terrain), Bangar (alluvial uplands), Khadar (sandy riverine areas), and Dabar (low-lying floodplains).
More than 200 native species of trees, including babool, neem, jamun, wild grasses, and medicinal herbs, have replaced the previous eucalyptus monoculture, creating a haven that now hosts at least 150 varieties of bird.
For longtime residents like Afshan, who has lived in nearby Parasnath Srishti for over 15 years, the transformation has been nothing short of remarkable. "Before this park, it was mostly quiet. After the native species were introduced, flora and fauna started to flourish.
And the birds followed," she says.
Despite established sanctuaries like Okhla and Dhanauri wetlands, the Sector 91 park has carved its own niche.
Nisha Rai, a Sector 77 resident, discovered it during a cycling expedition in 2021. "Seeing a peacock casually walking near the forest edge was unexpected in Noida," she says, noting the diverse wildlife from eagles to butterflies.
The park has also attracted wildlife observers.
Ashir Kumar, a professional photographer from Greater Noida, leads nature walks here, including a recent WWF 'City Nature Challenge'. "Even though it's partially curated, dense patches still harbour thriving wildlife here," he says.
Community engagement has flourished too. Bidisha Dutta, a publishing professional, has organised nature walks for children.
"The park's layout allows for quiet nature pockets away from the main paths — perfect for educational activities.
The kids hunt for their favourite colours, build shapes with twigs and leaves, and experience the ecosystems up close," she tells TOI.
Bidisha and her husband hosted 20 Bengali families during a picnic last winter.
Challenges, however, persist. The central water body is in dire need of maintenance, while excessive manicuring of certain areas has alarmed birders as well.
Tapas Misra, a lawyer and birder, observes, "There are two faces to this park — untouched wilderness and landscaped areas.
While it's perfect for beginners, it lacks the ecological balance of a sanctuary."
Similarly, Eldeco Utopia resident Tripti Upadhyaya, who has spotted Indian paradise flycatchers, orange-headed thrushes, and taiga flycatchers, rues that the waterbody is often filled with muck and needs to be cleaned regularly.
"Excessive pruning is an issue as well. Worms come to tall grass, and birds come for the worms. The more manicured a park is, the less welcoming it is for wildlife," she says.
Asked about the upkeep, Anand Mohan, director of horticulture at Noida Authority, says, "We carry out regular maintenance work at the park. All washrooms were revamped recently. Yes, the water level at the pond goes low during summers, but we will make some arrangements using motorised pumps."
Despite these concerns, the Sector 91 facility continues to evolve, with plans for a deer park in the pipeline.
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