Vidyasagar Hariharan discovered his goal in existence because of operating. In 2016, the Mumbai resident joined a marathon training membership. Whilst going for a run, his marathon buddies spoke about going biking to Sewri, to look flamingos. The banker used to be pleasantly shocked when he learnt that flamingos come to Mumbai,
His interest piqued, the fowl lover cycled together with his buddies to Sewri the following morning. What he noticed bowled him over. He fell in love with the wading birds the primary time he laid eyes on them.
He advised his marathon trainer about his revel in and used to be knowledgeable by means of him that there used to be a small lake in the back of the NRI advanced residential house in Navi Mumbai, to which flamingos throng in 1000’s all over the season and may well be noticed in a lot nearer quarters than Sewri.
Vidyasagar can completely recall that Saturday morning in March 2016 love it used to be the day prior to this. He calls what he noticed ‘magic’.
“I heard a noisy noise as we have been nearing the waterbody. It used to be the sound of 1000’s of flamingos cackling. The emerging solar painted the murky tidal waters and the purple birds golden. I used to be enamoured,” provides the 47-year-old.
Having an hobby in images and birds, Vidyasagar then invested in a just right digital camera and started visiting the wetlands each and every week. He additionally began in depth analysis at the birds.
He says that flamingos started visiting Mumbai within the Nineties. A Bombay Herbal Historical past Society (BNHS) find out about discovered 1.2 lakh Higher and Lesser flamingos (two species) in Mumbai — principally the Thane creek — in 2019.
“Thane creek, which separates Mumbai island from the mainland is the important thing to this ecosystem and here’s the place the flamingos arrive from Kutch and a few most likely (the higher flamingos) all of the approach from the Persian gulf. Mumbai has the sort of stunning mangrove and wetland habitat,” provides Vidyasagar.
Visiting the a large number of wetlands within the town and documenting the pretty birds ended in a deeper figuring out in regards to the problems round wetlands and the herbal historical past phenomenon. He determined to create consciousness in regards to the significance of holding the city wetlands via his Instagram web page.
Listed below are 10 photos that display how necessary it’s to maintain the mangroves and wetlands:
- The lake in the back of the NRI advanced, Navi Mumbai.
This image completely captures how people have intruded into animal territory. House to greater than 60 species of birds, this lake is below risk, as developers need to assemble a golfing path on this house.
“I discovered my goal once I heard in regards to the golfing path. This wetland lake is among the 3 in Navi Mumbai which are the most important for flamingo migration. They arrive right here all over top tides and carry out their mating dance,” provides the photographer.
- The lake in the back of the NRI Complicated, Navi Mumbai.
This used to be certainly one of Vidyasagar’s first photos, taken in 2016, all over dawn. He explains that flamingos are an excellent indicator of the well being of the wetlands.
“The wetlands in Mumbai, particularly the Thane creek, are wholesome. Flamingos get sufficient to consume and feature considerable puts to leisure right here. Mumbai is perhaps the one massive town that sees migration of the sort of large collection of flamingos,” he says.
- The lake in the back of the NRI Complicated, Navi Mumbai.
The flamingo season in Mumbai is from November to June.
“Mumbai will get each the Asian species of flamingos, the Higher and Lesser Flamingos, in large numbers as a result of a beneficial iciness climate, habitat and meals in and across the Thane Creek,” says Vidyasagar.
- Thane creek flamingo sanctuary
The explanation why flamingos come to the Thane creek in massive numbers is because of the supply of meals, the blue-green algae which is because of the handled sewage within the creek, as an example. This algae additionally offers flamingos their purple color, says Vidyasagar.
“Those wetlands aren’t house to many birds but additionally save you flooding of town. We wish to forestall building throughout those wetlands. Allow them to be,” says the 47-year-old.
- Mogra Nulla, Lokhandwala.
During the last two years, flamingos have began visiting the Malad creek too, which may be very polluted. This image speaks one thousand phrases, because it presentations how those birds are fending for meals amidst waste strewn round by means of people.
“During the last seven years, I’ve noticed an building up in reckless plastic air pollution. Folks will have to in reality forestall throwing waste round lakes. Even the dry grass surrounding lakes is house to many species of birds. We wish to act responsibly and forestall the air pollution,” says Vidyasagar.
- Thane creek flamingo sanctuary
Clicked in Would possibly 2016, this image has been featured in a flora and fauna ebook of the Corbett basis. Vidyasagar needs other folks to look Mumbai’s stunning wild aspect.
“Mumbai isn’t a concrete jungle. Folks will have to know that Mumbai has extra flora and fauna than simply the Sanjay Gandhi Nationwide park. Everybody will have to perceive the migration phenomenon. Best then will they paintings in opposition to holding those city wetlands,” he provides.
- Delhi Public College lake, Navi Mumbai
But even so his Instagram web page, Vidyasagar additionally takes a make a choice few, who’re actually serious about nature and conservation, on walks.
“Folks commute to Kenya to look flora and fauna, Lake Nakuru to look flamingos, with out realizing that the similar species involves their very own town. Benefit from the flora and fauna round your personal towns. Flora and fauna isn’t just present in large nationwide parks, but additionally in wetlands, we simply have to go searching,” he says.
- Thane creek flamingo sanctuary
This image, which presentations a better and lesser flamingo strolling in combination, has been featured by means of India Submit and likewise in a Banarasi silk saree as a motif.
“The higher flamingo is taller, nearly 5 ft tall, whilst the lesser is purple, has a black and pink beak and crimson eyes. Those two species are discovered throughout Asia, Africa and Europe,” he provides.
- TS Chanakya Lake, Navi Mumbai
This image presentations two higher flamingos combating. In a similar way, we additionally wish to forestall combating in opposition to nature, says the photographer.
“Town has an incredible call for for land. We’ve already destroyed the habitat. We wish to forestall additional destruction. We needn’t construct via forests and wetlands. Go away the herbal habitat of birds and animals by myself,” he says.
His photos over time paint an image of ways town’s panorama has modified and the way it has affected birds.
- Thane Creek flamingo sanctuary
This image, which presentations 1000’s of flamingos swimming, has been shortlisted for the Mangrove images awards 2023. It exemplifies the reality we will be able to coexist with birds within the town.
“We aren’t allowing them to coexist. If we focal point on conservation and construct golfing classes somewhere else, we will be able to save you migration of flamingos to different puts. Let’s focal point on our herbal wealth. We can be successful with collective efforts,” he provides.
Edited by means of Padmashree Pande