The edges of Chaka Lake grade into wet saline meadows and reed beds that attract significant bird populations, particularly during the spring and autumn migration periods. Bar-headed geese — famous for crossing the Himalayas — nest in the area, and large flocks of black-necked cranes use the wetlands as staging habitat. Ruddy shelducks and several species of waders are common in summer.
The wetlands are accessible from the road that skirts the northern shore, where pull-outs allow binoculars-level viewing without entering the main entrance area. Dawn visits before the salt flat fills with tourists are particularly rewarding. The combination of the pale saline flat, the reed margins, and the bare mountain backdrop makes this an unusually photogenic birdwatching location even for those who are primarily there for the reflections.