In a welcoming news, the Mumbai Metropoltian Region (MMR) has recorded the highest number of greater flamingos or pink winged guests flocked in 2021-22.
According to reports, this is the highest since 2018, when the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) began monitoring exercise, tweeted Maharashtra Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray. However, they claimed that between December 2021 and March 2022, the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary (TCFS) witnessed 54,000 greater flamingos while Sewri and Nhava saw 17,000 and 227 respectively.
Juvenile (5%) and sub adult (21%) proportions were lower than those of adults across the three regions.
Reports stated that approximately, 1,33,000 flamingos were observed this year (during April) across the TCFS, Sewri, Nhava and adjacent zones against 1,03,000 in 2020-21 (during February), 96,400 during 2019-20 (February) and 1,20,000 during 2018-19 (March).
With more than 75,000 Lesser Flamingos and 50,000 of their greater cousins, there is a bloom of pink in Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary. Here is a visual treat from Navi Mumbai. @MangroveForest @MahaForest @NaviMumbaiCity #Mumbai pic.twitter.com/OMSVnT7PSR
— Bombay Natural History Society (@BNHSIndia) May 12, 2022
The population of the lesser flamingos has witnessed a marginal increase across all three locations – 65,000 at TCFS, 25,000 at Sewri, and 9000 at Nhava from December 2021 to March 2022.
BNHS deputy director Rahul Khot said, ‘’Last couple of years, we observed less number of flamingos. One of the reason could be our inability to conduct surveys during March to May, owing to pandemic reasons. Highest number of flamingos is observed during these three months. Greater flamingos prefer freshwater and estuary environments, which Mumbai offers in plenty thanks to its creeks and inland wetlands. Also, the sort of food they might be getting here may make this ecosystem more appealing to them. These birds are filter feeders mainly feeding on algae and small crustaceans which are responsible for their pink colouration.’’
‘’This is a sharp increase since previous years and especially last year (2020-21) when the greater flamingo abundance was the lowest (324-569) across all three regions and less than 2% of the population recorded in the preceding two years,’’ said the Maharashtra Forest Department and Mangrove Foundation in a joint statement.
🦩 🦩
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) May 11, 2022
Highest count since counting began. https://t.co/iOmKr2Wy4c
For those unversed, since 2017, BNHS is conducting flamingo survey in the region as a part of a decadal survey project (up to 2027) – to map and count Mumbai’s migratory birds and to study the impact of the Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link on flamingos and other avifauna in the Thane Creek, Sewri, Nhava, and surrounding areas, as well as identify mitigation measures.
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