April 25, 2021 A perennial freshwater lake, Haleji remains among the biggest bird sanctuaries in Asia and a birding heaven, despite being a picnic spot and home to several crocodiles As we headed towards one of our favourite birding spots, we were quite certain that our return will be in the agonising, scorching heat, since the summer wave had engulfed Sindh already. However, we had already yielded to the love of birding as we headed out at 5 in the morning to make it just in time during the pleasant morning hours at Haleji Lake. Haleji is a perennial freshwater lake, located in the Thatta district, 90 kilometres away from Karachi. It takes almost two hours to reach it when early morning road traffic is negligible. Once you are there, watching the mesmerising sunrise at the lake is highly recommended. It is also the best time for bird watching. Home to Siberian migratory birds, the lake is 6.58 square kilometres in are and has a depth of 16 feet, not to mention that it is home also to crocodiles, often seen basking in the sun or quietly swimming. The 250 or so of the fresh water crocodiles are fed by the wildlife officials and can sometimes pose a threat to nearby villages and their livestock.