World Migratory Bird Day 2022: Experts share unique facts and birds you need to look out for in Mumbai

Osprey. Pic Courtesy/Adesh Shivkar

Something in the water

Tuhina Katti, a scientist at Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) is an expert on bird migration studies, and is currently monitoring key sites visited by migratory birds. Katti shares that October is a great month to spot migratory birds in India. Along with wintering birds, we see a lot of passage migrant species that do not spend the season here, but only stop over to refuel before continuing down south or crossing the ocean to Africa.

Black-tailed godwit

She notes that wetlands and beaches will give you a good view of migratory water birds and shore birds like flamingos, pied avocet, godwits, curlews, ducks like northern shoveler and northern pintail, and plovers that are very active and fun to watch, and small stints - in the 15-20 gm line of birds that can cover 8,000-10,000 km during one way of their migration - they're small birds with a lot of energy, as Katti describes them.

Tuhina Katti

Speaking about the water birds, Katti shares, "Head out to the wetlands, especially to Thane Creek for the safari operated by the Forest Department from Airoli. It's a must-try because it offers a great view of flamingos that arrive in thousands." The wetlands in different parts of the city welcome migratory water birds. Head to Navi Mumbai during high tide for a better view of the birds, and to the beach for migratory shorebirds from Siberia and Arctic that feed along the shore's mudflats.

Greater flamingo. Pics Courtesy/BNHS Wetlands Program

Katti highlights satellite tracking studies at BNHS in which a black-tailed godwit was caught at Bhandup Pumping Station and fitted with a tracking device last year. She notes, "It was tracked travelling from its breeding grounds to Mumbai, covering thousands of kilometres in just five days," she adds.

The World Migratory Bird Day theme this year revolves around dimming the lights. Katti informs, "Every year migratory birds cross distances at night. But light pollution can cause distractions and potentially change their routes. It's important to create awareness about switching off or dimming unnecesssary lighting systems."

An avian visitors everywhere

Adesh Shivkar, naturalist and director of Nature India Tours shares that the Mumbai Metropolitan Region has recorded 462 species of birds, of which 130 to 140 species are generally migratory birds. He shares, "Mumbai's location makes it not just a passage for migratory birds moving south but also a wintering ground for several species considering our huge coastline and a network of creeks." He adds that shorebirds comprise the maximum number of migratory species, and of the long-distance migratory birds from Siberia, Central Asia and Europe that come to India, many can be found in Mumbai.

Rosy starling. Pic Courtesy/Adesh Shivkar

Shivkar points out three categories of migratory birds in the city - those that come to the forests, the grasslands, scrublands, and the wetlands. Birds to look out for in the forests of Mumbai include the greenish warbler and brown-breasted flycatcher from the Himalayas, Taiga flycatcher from central Asian scrublands, tree pipit, rosy starling and yellow wagtails. Birds of prey commonly seen in marshes and grasslands include marsh harrier, pallid harrier and osprey, greater spotted eagle from central Asia and Russia. You'll also spot the Northern shoveler duck and gadwall in the wetlands.

Adesh Shivkar

Get birding

Katti's resource list
>> Merlin Bird ID app
>> E-bird app
>> Birds of the Indian Subcontinent

Shivkar's resource list
>> Vasai Birds app
>> Birds of Mumbai by Sunjoy Monga
>> 100 Common Birds of India by Dr Raju Kasambe
>> early-bird.in
>> Mumbai Birdwatcher's Club on Facebook

Spot migratory birds In and Around Mumbai:

>> Kharghar marshes
>> Lokhandwala marshes
>> Maharashtra Nature Park, Mahim
>> Sector 10, Vashi, Navi Mumbai
>> Thane Kolshet Creek
>> Beaches like Bhuigaon beach or Alibaug beach
>> Karnala Bird Sanctuary
>> Aarey Colony