112 waterbird species recorded in six state wetlands as part of survey

Mumbai: In the first year of the five-year-long survey to identify migratory waterbird species conducted between October 2021 and April 2022 across six wetlands in Maharashtra, which are part of their Central Asian Flyway (CAF), a total of 112 waterbird species from 18 families have been recorded.

- Chittaranjan Tembhekar timesgroup.com

The results, say the scientists with BNHS and State Mangrove Cell, highlight the significance of protecting large wetlands in the state. For migrating birds travelling via the Central Asian Flyway, Maharashtra is home to a multitude of both natural and man-made wetlands that serve as staging places and wintering grounds. So far, Maha has recorded 256 species which are part of central asian flyway (CAF) that starts over 8,000 km away from across Russia. The ongoing survey will only tell how many of them are still visiting us or if there are new species coming, they add.

Flyways are utilised by birds to reach breeding, stopover, and wintering grounds during their annual cycle.