Usually a poor monsoon indicates a drop in the number of birds visiting the lake or a decrease in their stay. This year round, a good rainfall in neighbouring areas has proved beneficial for Nal Sarovar. ``Water levels have risen to six feet following breached ponds and lakes in Viramgam and Sanand,'' said a forest department staffer at Nal Sarovar.

Considered one of the finest surviving wetlands in the country, Nal Sarovar is the winter abode of around 250 species of migratory waterfowl and wading birds. While most of them start arriving in November, a few birds like shovellers, pochards and local migrants like herons have arrived, though their number is not very high.

The wetland is especially preferred for its quality of water. While it is brackish during the summer, the water becomes sweet after the monsoon. This makes the sanctuary home to birds like flamingoes in summer and other sweet water species during the winter.

And with the poor monsoon in the rest of the State, bird lovers have all the more reason to be optimistic about the number of birds. ``We hope to see an increase in the number this year,'' said Conservator of Forests (social forestry), Ahmedabad T R M Prasad.

Government plan
The State Forest Department is implementing a Habitat Conservation Plan for Nal Sarovar this year. According to the plan, the height of bunds and boundaries of the lake are to be increased for better water conservation. ``This is expected to further raise the height of the lake by about one foot,'' T R M Prasad said. ``We also have a new plan for protection and better breeding of birds,'' he added.