Winter guests wing their way into city
Winter has arrived and the city is beginning to get flooded with "outsiders". Mumbaikars need not worry as these "outsiders" will not invite the anger of political parties. Instead this migration is one of the key environmental characteristics of the city.
The Waders from Central Asia, Siberia and some parts of Europe have started landing across the western coast and places in and around Mumbai such as Sewri mudflats, Vikhroli, Trombay and Airoli. Waders are the birds associated with wetlands and coastal environment and Mumbaikars will have a chance to observe these unique birds at Sewri.
The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) along with BBC Knowledge has organised a special Wader watch at Sewri mudflats on December 17. "The migration of these birds is an annual phenomenon. They migrate mainly because of the excessive winter in their respective habitats, which makes them difficult to find food," said Atul Sathe of BNHS.
Sathe added that, these birds find ample of food around the western coastline which is the main reason why it becomes their home for around four to five months. Mumbaikars will have an opportunity to see birds like Lesser Sand Plover, Little Ring Plover, Bar-tailed and the threatened Black-tailed Godwit, Eurasian Curlew.
Ruturaj Joshi of Nisarg trust mentioned that, there are several places on the western coastline where these birds can be seen. "However these places are not easily accessible and people will have to take efforts to reach there. At the same time, increasing pollution, illegal cutting of mangroves in some places and hunting of these birds is detrimental," he said.
According to Sathe, this year the arrival time of these visitors was delayed mainly because of late arrival of winter. "The arrival was a bit delayed. But now it is time to welcome them and to study them," he said.
However, Mumbaikars will have to wait to see flamingos as these birds have still not been spotted.
Winter has arrived and the city is beginning to get flooded with "outsiders". Mumbaikars need not worry as these "outsiders" will not invite the anger of political parties. Instead this migration is one of the key environmental characteristics of the city.
The Waders from Central Asia, Siberia and some parts of Europe have started landing across the western coast and places in and around Mumbai such as Sewri mudflats, Vikhroli, Trombay and Airoli. Waders are the birds associated with wetlands and coastal environment and Mumbaikars will have a chance to observe these unique birds at Sewri.
The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) along with BBC Knowledge has organised a special Wader watch at Sewri mudflats on December 17. "The migration of these birds is an annual phenomenon. They migrate mainly because of the excessive winter in their respective habitats, which makes them difficult to find food," said Atul Sathe of BNHS.
Sathe added that, these birds find ample of food around the western coastline which is the main reason why it becomes their home for around four to five months. Mumbaikars will have an opportunity to see birds like Lesser Sand Plover, Little Ring Plover, Bar-tailed and the threatened Black-tailed Godwit, Eurasian Curlew.
Ruturaj Joshi of Nisarg trust mentioned that, there are several places on the western coastline where these birds can be seen. "However these places are not easily accessible and people will have to take efforts to reach there. At the same time, increasing pollution, illegal cutting of mangroves in some places and hunting of these birds is detrimental," he said.
According to Sathe, this year the arrival time of these visitors was delayed mainly because of late arrival of winter. "The arrival was a bit delayed. But now it is time to welcome them and to study them," he said.
However, Mumbaikars will have to wait to see flamingos as these birds have still not been spotted.
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