Bird watchers in Dombivli spot 150 species

SUNDAY EVENT Rampant constructions have shooed away several migratory birds which used to flock to the place, say experts and residents

DOMBIVLI: Of the 170 participants of the bird- watching competition on Sunday, 20 were students who were passionate about the feathered species, although the event was new to many.

A total of 150 species of birds were spotted at the event.

“I have been bird- watching for the past two years and I must say Dombivli is one of the best places for it,” said Shruti Hegde, 22, a zoology student whose team won the first prize in the bird race.

“We were a t eam of f ive and were very enthusiastic about the competition and had already visited some of the places in Dombivli earlier as a practice,” said Hedge.

Organised by Birds of Thane and Raigad District ( BOTRD), the event comprised 45 teams, who recorded the species seen with help from experts.

“Many residents in Dombivli don’t know about the wide range of birds coming to the city. However, the feathered visitors are vanishing due to several constructions coming up in the city. A place like Bhopar village in Dombivli (East) used to have many species of birds. But, due to rampant constructions in the area, the birds have stopped coming,” said Hedge.

As per BOTRD, Dombilvi is blessed with a good avian bio- diversity.

A total of 250 species of bird mostly migratory and few residential can be sighted in an around this city. “A rich biodiversity has been created in Dombivli by tidal creeks, small lakes, hills and mountains, small forests patches and dry grasslands,” said Prathamesh Desai, a member of BOTRD.

As the teams trudged and explored birding hotpots of Dombivli, they came across a treasure of the beautiful natural surroundings which the city has been endowed with.

The t eams spotted more than 150 birds species which were recorded. Some of the birds spotted by the teams were Baillon’s Crake, Greater Spotted Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Jungle Bush Quail, Painted Stork, Asian Paradise Flycatcher and Gadwall.

ORGANISED BY BIRDS OF THANE AND RAIGAD DISTRICT, THE EVENT COMPRISED 45 TEAMS

The Jungle Myna, Slaty Breasted Rail and Indian Spotted Eagle were some of the sightings.

RISHIKESH CHAUDHARY