Pune birders record 254 species in Wild Bird Day marathon

Pune: Birders from the Pune Birding Community recorded 254 bird species during a day-long birding marathon held across multiple hotspots in the Pune region on Oct 10, marking Wild Bird Day.Birders of different age groups and experience levels got together and explored diverse habitats, including grasslands, wetlands and forested areas of the Western Ghats.“Over 100 birders from the Pune Birding Community came together for a day-long birding marathon and spotted more than 250 species in a single day. There were experienced birders as well as new ones, ranging from seven-year-olds to seventy-somethings. It was a collaborative birding experience, with birders cheering each other on as new sightings came in from different sites,” said Sumiti Saharan, one of the organisers and an admin of the Pune Birding Community (PBC).The birding covered several locations, including Vetal Tekdi, Sinhagad Valley, Tamhini and Bhigwan. The sightings included several passage migrants, such as European rollers, blue-cheeked bee-eaters and lesser cuckoos, which use the region during their long-distance journeys. “Pune’s grasslands, Western Ghats and wetlands are sought by several passage migrants that use it as a stopover on their long journeys between Europe, Central Asia and Africa. These sightings show how important it is to protect Pune’s habitats, especially its grasslands,” Rajiv Ramaswamy, co-admin, PBC, said.Arjit Jere, a nature educator and participant, said the marathon aimed to cover as many habitats and species as possible through a collective effort. “Some participants undertook full-day birding marathons and recorded around 100 species individually. Among the notable sightings was the Eurasian hobby, a long-distance passage migrant, and fast-flying raptor that passes through Maharashtra during its journey from the Himalayas and Central Asia.”The sightings of the great grey shrike and the Indian vulture were particularly encouraging because of their decline in population. “The grey shrike’s population is declining due to disappearing grasslands, while the almost extinct Indian vulture survives in small numbers in the Sahyadri region of Pune district,” said Jere while adding, “The dazzling blue, white-bellied blue flycatcher, uncommon in forest habitats, somehow graced the Western Ghats in Pune district.”