Thousands of flamingos were spotted settling along the creek in Seawood, Navi Mumbai. The migratory birds, which visit Mumbai every year, have arrived in huge numbers, in the middle of a lockdown in the city. All pictures: Pradeep Dhivar
Updated On: 2020-05-12 08:53 AM IST
A sea of pink dazzled residents were seen as thousands of flamingos settled along the creek near Seawood, Navi Mumbai.
According to the Bombay Natural History Society, there has been a 25 per cent increase in flamingo migration since last year, when 1.2 lakh birds had come visiting. This year, over 1.5 lakh birds were spotted in the first week of April.
The flamingos arrived from the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat and Sambhar Lake in Rajasthan. Some flew in from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and Israel.
The COVID-19 lockdown has ensured that the birds get enough place for roosting and that they can hunt for food without any disturbance. It is hence an encouraging atmosphere for flamingos to migrate to Mumbai.
Sunjoy Monga, naturalist/ecologist, writer and photographer, told mid-day, "Over the past years, flamingo congregations are pretty routine and this period is often longer for them than for most other migratory birds."
He added, "However if the numbers are higher this season it is difficult to quantify it because with people locked down in their homes, those living near Airoli creek, Palm Beach Road, etc, are continuously seeing the flamingo congregation they may not be accustomed to. So it is a question of perception."
