Pune is a part of the Western Ghats and is surrounded by hills on all sides. Apart from being famous for its heritage and culture and Chitale Bakarwadis, this city has a hidden treasure. A missed out element in the list of ‘things to do in Pune’ is bird watching!
Today, we take you on a nature tour of the city showing you the 10 exotic birds you can see in and around Pune, so you understand your surroundings better and appreciate life, as we know it.
1. Greater Flamingo
These beautiful pink birds are a breathtaking sight in Bhigwan It is a small town around 100 km away from Pune and becomes a hotbed of migratory birds during the winter. Bhigwan is at one end of the Yashwant Sagar reservoir, forming backwaters of the Ujain Dam. One of the main attractions during the migratory season is the arrival of the pink greater flamingos. During the months of early Jan – late Feb, this place is flocked by bird lovers from all over Maharashtra.
2. Green Bee-Eater
This richly coloured, slender bird is seen in less populated locations in the city. It is about 9 inches (16–18 cm) long with about 2 inches made up by the elongated central tail-feathers. Most commonly, it is sighted in the areas of Kavadi River, Pashan Lake, Tamhini Ghat.
3. Purple Sunbird
These beautiful birds are seen at multiple locations around the city. The males are glossy metallic purplish black on the upper parts with the wings appearing dark brown. Females have an olive upper body and yellowish lower body. The outer tail feathers are white for both male and female. They are commonly spotted near Singhad Valley, Pashan Lake, Bhigwan sanctuary.
4. Yellow-Footed Green Pigeon
The state bird of Maharashtra, this bird has a Magnificent yellow, green colour. These are social birds and forage in flocks. They have a yellowish olive-green body, duller above with a blue-grey crown. Forehead and lores often suffused pale olive-green. They have lilac patch on the shoulders and a conspicuous yellow bar in the blackish wings. They are an immediate eye-catcher for bird lovers and are commonly seen sitting like a couple. These are mostly seen near Pashan Lake.
5. Grey Hornbill
The Indian grey hornbill is a medium-sized hornbill. The upper parts are greyish brown, and there is a slight trace of a pale supercilium. The ear coverts are dark. The flight feathers of the wings are dark brown with a whitish tip. The tail has a white tip and a dark subterminal band. They have a red iris, and the eyelids have eyelashes. The casque is short and pointed. This bird is rarely sighted but shows its presence around the city.
Now, let’s look at the endangered birds that still have a few hopes in Pune.
6. The Great Indian Bustard- Critically Endangered
The great Indian bustard is a large ground bird with a height of about one metre. It is unmistakable with its black cap contrasting with the pale head and neck. The body is brownish with a black patch spotted in white. The male is dark sandy buff coloured with black breast during the breeding season. The crown of the head is black and crested and is puffed up by displaying males. Females are smaller than the males, and their head and neck are not pure white. The breast band is either rudimentary, broken or absent. These are seen in Nannaj, a small town located around 20 km from Solapur.
7. Lesser Florican- Highly Endangered
The Lesser Florican is a smaller bustard, and the female is larger than the male. The breeding plumage in males is black in the neck, head and lower parts with a white throat. Three to six long upcurved spatulate black plumes arise from behind the ears on each side of the head. While in non-breeding phase, plumage is buff with black streaks. Legs and iris are yellow. A rare sighting of the bird happened on the ARAI Tekdi around two years back. But it is uncommonly seen in parts of Akola, where conservation of the bird is requested desperately.
8. Painted Storks- Critically Endangered
The painted stork is a large bird with a wingspan of 15 to 160 cm. They have a long yellow beak with a down-curved tip. Their head is reddish orange in colour and tertials are long with bright pink tips extending beyond the tail when at rest. These birds are usually seen near freshwater wetlands. Pashan Lake, Bopdev Ghat are a few such places in the city.
9. Black-headed Ibis- Vulnerable
It is seen marshy wetlands inland and on the coast, where it feeds on various fish, frogs and other water creatures, as well as on insects. Adults are typically 75 cm long and white-plumaged, with some greyer areas on the wings. The bald head, the neck and legs are black. The thick curved bill is dusky yellow. Sexes are similar, but juveniles have whiter necks and a black bill. It is seen in Bhigwan and Pashan Lake.
10. White-Rumped Vulture- Critically Endangered
The white-rumped vulture is a typical, medium-sized vulture, with a bald head and neck, broad wings, and short tail feathers. It has a white neck ruff. The head has a pink tin and bill is silvery with dark ceres. The nostril openings are slit-like. Juveniles are mainly dark and take about four or five years to acquire the adult plumage. In flight, the adults show a dark leading edge of the wings and have a white wing-lining on the underside. The species is a rare sight in Garudmachi near Tamhini Ghat. It is in great trouble for nesting due to construction and dynamite bombing in this place.
These were a few birds in the Pune city that go unnoticed. Because of increasing construction of houses and skyscrapers, birds are losing their livelihood. Nature has given everybody equal rights to live and we should not become selfish.
We look forward to your suggestions about ways how we can prevent birds from losing their lives. Let us step forward and join hands to save our environment.
