Fewer flamingos arrived this year
Over the months however, the number has become quite steady, they said.
Mumbai: Bird experts have stated that earlier this year, the flamingos arrived in less numbers till February as compared to previous years.
Over the months however, the number has become quite steady, they said. The late arrival of flamingos could be due to good rainfall received by Gujarat as these birds fly to Mumbai from Kutch.
According to bird experts from the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), the flamingo count this year was lesser than that last year.
The BNHS study, which was the first of its kind, stated that 30,000 to 35,000 birds were present in Mumbai during last winter.
The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) recorded 49,000 flamingos in the city in 2016.
“This year, flamingos were indeed less in number according to my observation. But it could be due to numerous reasons like abundant rainfall in Gujarat and the presence of sufficient prey in the shallow waters of Kutch. To determine a pattern, we need to have a data of eight to 10 years for proper study of their migration,” said Asif Khan, bird expert, Bombay Natural History Society.
There has been an overall delay in the arrival of flamingos in Mumbai, which experts have attributed to good rainfall in Kutch due to cyclone Ockhi last year. Usually, these birds arrive in Mumbai by mid-October and November.