Nalbana was notified in 1987 and declared a bird sanctuary in 1973 under the Wildlife Protection Act.

[1][2][3] Large flocks of greater flamingos from Iran and the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, feed in the shallow waters of the lake.

Rare birds reported in the lake are Asiatic dowitchers (NT), Dalmatian pelican (VU), Pallas's fish-eagles (VU), the very rare migrant spoon-billed sandpiper (CR) and spot-billed pelican (NT).

These include plovers, the collared pratincole, ruff, dunlin, snipes and sandpipers.

Little cormorants are seen on perches around the lake, Compact flocks of brahminy ducks, as well as shovellers, pintails, gadwall, teals, pochards, geese and coots, are also seen.