Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary protects mangrove habitat on Chorao Island, just across from Panaji. The reserve is named for India's best-known ornithologist and is a good reminder that Goa's coast is more than beaches, churches, and nightlife.
Go early, move quietly, and bring binoculars if you can. Birdlife varies with season and tide, but even a modest visit gives you mangrove shade, water channels, and a different rhythm from central Panaji.