25 April,2026 08:51 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet Jadhav
Rosy pelican. Pic/Rahul Wadghule and Satish Gogte
Naturalist and Wildlife Photographer Mahesh Yadav, who is a regular birder said, "A sudden spike in rare bird sightings doesn't always mean more birds. It often means we're noticing them more, alongside real ecological shifts. One key factor is improved observer effort. The rise of birding groups, social media alerts, and platforms like eBird, means more eyes in the field and faster reporting. Areas like Aarey, Uran wetlands, and Bhigwan are being watched more closely than ever."
Yadav also pointed out that seasonal and climatic changes also play a role.
Birder and wildlife ptohographer Yogesh Patel said, "Altered wind patterns, unseasonal rain, and temperature shifts linked to climate change can push migratory birds off their usual routes, leading to vagrancy explaining species like the Arctic tern or Siberian thrush turning up far from expected ranges. Habitat changes are another trigger. Urbanisation, wetland loss, and shifting food availability can force birds to explore new stopover sites. Conversely, temporary improvements like water retention in wetlands attract unusual visitors."
In a rare avian sighting, two great white pelicans, also known as "rosy pelicans", were spotted at the Nandur Madhmeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in Nashik on the morning of March 28 this year. This was the first recorded sighting of the species at the site since 2005, and the first reported presence in Maharashtra since 2013, when it was last observed in Mumbai. PIC/Rahul Wadghule and Satish Gogte
The elusive, crepuscular bird was sighted in Aarey forest in August 2025 during a nature walk; usually heard, rarely seen. PIC/Mahesh Yadav
This Siberian thrush (a female) is a forest bird and breeds in Siberia, Sakhalin Japan and migrates for wintering to South East Asia including Thailand, Malaysia, Java, etc. India itself is to the west of its usual range and Mumbai being extreme west of India, further makes the sighting in Deonar/Chembur in March 2025 highly unusual. Historically there was a similar sighting in Porbandar, Gujarat, in November 2016. PIC/Subhadeep Ghosh
This critically endangered bird was spotted for the first time in Ratnagiri in May 2025. PIC/Nikhita Shinde
A Mumbai-based wildlife lover was able to take a picture of the critically endangered long billed vulture on camera at Malang Gad near Kalyan in Thane District in January 2024. PIC/Sanal Santosh
Recorded between 2021 and 2025 across Virar, Palghar, Bhandup, and Kalyan-Dombivli, the bird is a rare passage migrant straying from its usual route. PIC/Mahesh Yadav
This rare species was documented near Kumbhargaon-Bhigwan, Pune, during a night trail in December 2025. PIC/Karan Solanki
After a gap of 96 years, the pelagic bird was recorded in India at Sassoon Dock. Known for its extraordinary pole-to-pole migration, it travels from the Arctic Circle during winter to the Antarctic summer and back making its presence in India, far from its usual route, highly unusual. This rare bird made an appearance in September 2024 on Mumbai's shores, bringing joy to bird watchers. Pic/Subhadeep Ghosh
This rare one has been sighted multiple times across Mumbai/Navi Mumbai - Dharavi (2016), Belapur (2024), Mahape-Rabale (2025); it is a rare winter vagrant from Siberia. PIC/Mahesh Yadav
This beauty was spotted in November 2025 in Maharashtra after 11 years, in a small pond in Uran. It is usually found in Northeast India. Pic/Yash Shetty
