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‘Flamingo habitat at Mithi needs to be protected’
Maharashtra Nature Park Dy Director says newly developing habitat should be made safe, secure for the birds ............Nitya Kaushik For nearly a month, a vast stretch of the much-abused Mithi river — sandwiched between the Bandra-Kurla Complex on one side and the Maharashtra Nature Park Society (MNPS) on the other — has become a regular visiting site for a group of resident flamingoes. Now, after tracking the birds and their visiting pattern for weeks, MNPS Deputy Director Avinash Kubal has contacted the MMRDA seeking action to protect the newly developing flamingo habitat.
In a letter to the MMRDA commissioner, Kubal has suggested steps to improve safety and security of the birds visiting Mithi.
The letter recommends: A complete ban on unwanted human entry into the region behind MNPS, vigil to reduce noise levels around the creek, night patrolling to rule out chances of poaching and awareness as well as education imparted to visitors and staff of MNPS immediately.
“For the past month, two couples and about eight to 10 juveniles have been spotted here regularly. It seems most likely that the birds are finding ample algae to feed on in the shallow waters here. These are the initial steps to ensure a good habitat for the birds along the Mithi. Once the area becomes safe for the birds, we can start a viewing deck for visitors,” said Kubal.
A 1-km unpaved path belonging to the MMRDA separates the flamingo site from the MNPS.
According to the park officials, the path is restricted to the public and used by MMRDA for temporary dumping of silt from the river. However, slumdwellers especially from the Bandra end often steal into this stretch to squat and bathe, they said. Kubal stated: “We have two guards at both ends of this path but often that doesn’t suffice. We have now requested MMRDA to enforce strict vigil.”
He added that the viewing deck, when planned, would be at least 10 feet away from the flamingoes’ visiting area so as to not disturb the birds and give them a natural and secure area.
Recently, the MNPS arranged a field visit for environmentalist Sunjoy Monga and Metropolitan Commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad to view the flamingoes. Monga said: “A viewing area for the birds seems like a good idea. However, flamingoes have been noticed to make temporary stopovers in Gorai and Manori creek in the past. We need to wait and watch if the Mithi river is in the birds’ long-term stopover plan.”
While there is not much documentation of the flamingoes’ migratory route, experts believe that the birds visit Mumbai from Gujarat’s Rann of Kutch between November and June. After feeding on the abundant blue-green algea in the mudflats of Mahul, Sewri, Uran, Airoli and Vashi for six long months, they reportedly fly back before the onset of monsoon. However, over the past few years, a few hundred flamingoes have made their home in the city. “These are usually aged birds that can’t breed anymore or juveniles that are too young to embark upon the marathon flight . With enough feed available for them through the monsoon months, these birds had made themselves comfortable here,” explained mangrove expert Vivek Kulkarni. Experts said the city mudflats needs to be developed to support these resident flamingoes.
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