Cranes may give Pune a miss

COME winter and bird lovers from Pune would drive to the Veer Dam to watch the Demoiselle Cranes. These birds, however, may give Pune a skip this winter. Although, these birds start arriving in Pune from November end, they are yet to be sighted this year.

Ornithologists and bird lovers from Maharashtra and southern India would visit Veer Dam to watch these three-feet-something cranes, a rare specie sighted only during winters.

Demoiselle Cranes or Anthropoides Virgo is a specie that breeds in central Asia, migrates to south Asia and are seen in Northern India and in some parts of Gujarat.

"There has been a drop in number of migratory birds like Bar-Headed Geese, Pintail Ducks, Demoiselle Cranes in the last couple of years," said noted ornithologist Dr Satish Pande.

According to him, there has also been a delay in their arrival in India. "Although this delay cannot be quickly associated with climate change, Indian Birds (a journal) has appealed to its readers to update them on the arrival timings of these migratory birds in their specific areas. Once this updated information is available, it will be easier to comment," Pande told MiD DAY.

"These migratory water birds are seen on Veer, Ujani Dams and various other irrigation and percolation tanks in the vicinity of Pune," he added.

According to Pande, five years back the number of Bar-Headed Geese seen at Veer was close to 5,000, but the number dropped to 50 last year.

Due to a change in arrival timings, many migratory birds are now missing out on vital food as it does not match the fruit-bearing season. "Due to global warming, when the birds arrive, the trees have already borne the fruit creating a shortage. Undernourishment affect their reproductive ability as a result of which their population is declining," Pande said.

Go watch birds

Carrying high-resolution cameras and binoculars

Don't wear bright colour clothes. Wear something in green and brown that can be camouflaged with the natural surroundings

Choose a covered area, away from the birds' vision

Don't approach the birds directly. If you sit still, there are chances that birds will come to you

Early mornings and late afternoons are best time to watch birds

Tips by Gaurav Purohit