Jayakwadi Bird Sanctuary

Also called the Nath Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, this protected area surrounds Nath Sagar, the reservoir held back by the Jayakwadi Dam near Paithan in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. The dam is the region's main water supply, and the sheet of water it created became a refuge for resident and migratory birds; the area was declared a sanctuary in 1986. It had earlier been a hunting ground of the Nizams of Hyderabad, and shooting stopped once it was protected.

Waterbirds such as ducks, geese and waders dominate, with northern pintail, common teal and great white pelican arriving in the migratory season. Eagles, harriers and kestrels hunt over the open ground, alongside Indian vultures and Indian rollers. Jackals, hyenas and leopards live in the surrounding scrub. Visitors come mainly for birdwatching, boat rides on the reservoir and walks along marked trails.