noida with winter knocking on the door the okhla bird sanctuary in noida has started welcoming its seasonal visitors it is still early for largescale winter migration officials said but some early visitors have arrived near the major water bodies in the district including okhla surajpur and dhanauri wetlands over 1000 early migratory birds have arrived at the okhla bird sanctuary according to officials birdwatchers can now spot painted storks different varieties of gulls cormorants greater flamingoes and northern shovellers among the aquatic species terrestrial birds such as eurasian hobbies can also be seen along with the domestic species okhla bird sanctuary surajpur dhanauri and ntpc areas are getting early migrants we are hoping that in the next 1520 days the water bodies will be full of several bird species said pk srivastava divisional forest officer gautam budh nagar the okhla bird sanctuary is open to the public from 730am to 5pm every day every year the sanctuary sees about 200 species of birds in large flocks at least 1500020000 birds visit the area annually the migration has just started but we are expecting higher numbers this year once the birds start coming in large flocks the entire water body will be covered by birds said arvind mishra range officer okhla bird sanctuary he added that this year people could avail park facilities such as golf cart tours a canteen and a new bamboo bridge to reach the watchtower the nature camp another addition will be ready in the next 15 days the forest department had also proposed cottages for night stays however the plan was shelved after birders argued that tourists at night would adversely impact bird migrationthe park was thrown open to the public from the beginning of october following the postmonsoon cleanup and habitat development