Pune: The prolonged monsoon this year may lead to a decline in the number of migratory birds that visit Maharashtra during the winter, ornithologists have said. Many wetlands and reservoirs across the state are still brimming with water because of the delayed retreat of rains, leaving little suitable habitat for birds to rest and feed.Every winter, thousands of migratory birds from colder regions make their way to Maharashtra’s wetlands and water bodies such as Ujani dam, Jayakwadi, Bhigwan and Thane creek. Species like flamingos, bar-headed geese, pintails, and sandpipers arrive between Oct and Feb, turning these areas into rich birding sites. These migratory visitors are not only a spectacle for nature lovers but also serve as vital indicators of wetland health.“We planned to conduct the annual bird count in Ujani in Dec. But so far, we spotted very few birds. The number of birds is likely to increase as the water level recedes since waterbirds need shore areas for feeding and resting. So, we decided to delay the bird count by a month,” said Jayant Kulkarni, director of the Wildlife Research and Conservation Society, Pune.The winter season is an important time for migratory birds, particularly in central and southern Maharashtra, including the forests of the Western Ghats. During this season, Nandur Madhmeshwar in Nashik and Bhigwan near Pune are prime locations to observe the many newly arrived migratory birds.City-based conservationist Ashish Kale said, “The current monsoon patterns have kept reservoirs and marshlands unusually wet, forcing birds to scatter across multiple water sources instead of congregating in traditional habitats.”Experts say the coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether Maharashtra’s wetlands regain their status as prime wintering sites. For now, birdwatchers across the state are keeping their binoculars ready, hoping the skies will soon fill with wings once again.“We are working on two projects in Maharashtra and Gujarat, and our observations show that some migratory birds have started to arrive in parts of Gujarat. It will be interesting to see how the prolonged monsoons have really impacted migration, but the results can be actually noticed only by Jan,” said Girish Jathar, executive director of the Society for Conservation of Nature.City-based ornithologist and birdwatcher Nikhil Deshmukh, who monitors bird activity in Bhigwan every winter, said the season so far looks unusual. “Normally by early Nov, we see flocks of ducks and flamingos, but this year sightings are sporadic. The landscape looks different because the usual shallow patches are now deep with water,” he said.Another bird researcher, Meenal Joshi from Savitribai Phule Pune University, said the pattern may also indicate that birds are adapting to shifting ecological cues. “Extended rainfall and changing monsoon cycles affect not just their arrival time but also their feeding and breeding grounds. Some species may have delayed migration or chosen alternative sites across western India,” she said.
