Gujarat: These new avian hotspots will make hearts flutter

AHMEDABAD: Serendipitous surprises await people travelling to Shela, Manipur and Godhavi. Thanks to abundant rainfall, the temporary wetlands in these peripheral areas have turned into a twitchers’ paradise. Home to diverse flora and fauna, these are proving to be ideal habitats for migratory and indigenous birds.
“The wetlands provide a large assortment of insects and shrubs that many water birds feed on.So, they become suitable spots for roosting and breeding,” said Kunan Naik, a lawyer and an avid birdwatcher. One can spot the floating nests of the little grebes and moorhens foraging in the swamp vegetation with their young ones for food. Bulbuls, shikras, peacocks and kingfishers are commonly sighted.
Large flocks of Asian openbill storks rest atop trees; over a period, their pure white plumages have worn off into tints of grey. Naik added, “The colour changes during the breeding season. In June, they’ll have white plumage with black primary feathers. Grey feathers are observed in the non-breeding members and the younglings.”
“Birds always visit nutrient-rich paddy fields in the rural areas. However, as these fields have declined in Shela village, so have the visits by our winged friends,” Naik added. Several species of duck, such as the spot-billed duck and lesser whistling duck, have settled in the marshy wilderness. Yet, the easily spotted species are the knob-billed ducks — the males have a distinct lump on the upper beak.
The yellow wagtail is often seen strolling, vigorously wagging its white fringed tails. The Jacobin cuckoos, brood parasites, and sandpipers are usually seen perched on the low-lying shrubs of the wetlands. “The migratory pattern of the Jacobin cuckoo hasn’t been documented yet. So, the WII (Wildlife Institute of India) has started ringing them for the purpose of monitoring,” said Amir Matil, a birdwatcher.