[4][5] Before Indian independence, a check dam was built for storing the waters of river Ruparel just before it entered the sea.

[4] The sanctuary is located at the watershed of Ruparel river and Kalindri at the North East coastal region of Jamnagar district in the Gulf of Kutch and has a very special and unique ecosystem.

In winter the sanctuary provides is a panorama of both migratory and resident birds like the Grey hypocolius, Forest wagtail, Grey-necked bunting, Black-headed bunting, Greylag goose, European roller, black-necked stork, Great white pelican, Dalmatian pelican, Lesser flamingo, Greater flamingo, great crested grebe, shikra, Indian spotted eagle, black ibis, Blue-cheeked bee-eater, Barn swallow, Crested lark, Isabelline shrike, black-winged kite, brahminy kite, pheasant-tailed jacana, great thick-knee, common greenshank, grey francolin, imperial eagle, little tern, black-tailed godwit, knob-billed duck, common crane, common teal, dunlin, garganey, Gadwall, marsh harrier, northern pintail, shoveler, Whistling ducks, Eurasian wigeon, pale harrier, demoiselle, cormorants and darters.

Among the other wildlife found here are blue bull, jackal, wolf, jungle cat, mongoose, Indian hare and snakes.

[4][6][9] The noted Indian ornithologist, Salim Ali when visited the sanctuary in 1984 and he reportedly sited 104 species on a single day.

[4][10] Khijadiya was declared as India's 49th Ramsar site, a wetland of International Importance recently on February 2, 2022.