As temperatures drop, Mumbai and Navi Mumbai get ready to welcome flamingos who mostly migrate from Kutch, as well as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Africa, and Turkey. “According to Bombay Natural Historical Society (BNHS), nearly 1,50,000   greater and lesser flamingos arrive along the city’s seashores annually, offering a visual spectacle,” shared Sreekumar Krishnan, a wildlife photographer. They migrate from Gujarat, mostly in search of food and water. They favour shorelines and intertidal lakes that offer the right mix of marshy conditions and algae-rich waters. With the city’s fluctuating tides, these birds adjust their movements accordingly. “During high tide when the tide exceeds three feet, flamingos find it difficult to forage along the shore and retreat to nearby lakes to feed on blue-green algae,” he explained. As the tide recedes, they return to the shoreline, following this natural rhythm, their take-off and landing create a captivating scene for observers.

Flamingos at the Bhandup spot. Pic Courtesy/Jitender Chandolia