Bang Pu Recreation Area is located along the old Sukhumvit Highway 3, some 35 km southeast of the Bangkok. Its nature reserve is noted for its large bird population especially during the winter when the Sakdi pier at Bang Pu is very popular for Thai people feeding the wintering seagulls. The park is run jointly by the Royal Thai Army and the Thai WWF, and was officially established on the 72nd birthday of Queen Sirikit in 2004.