BN Kumar

BN Kumar, director of NatConnect Foundation, organisers of the festival, said, “The civic body has given the Flamingo City tag to Navi Mumbai as it attracts the country’s largest number of flamingos for an urban area.” BNHS reported that 1.5 lakh birds visited the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary this year.

Poll

Who will win the Punjab Elections?

BJP 32.76%

AAP 43.10%

INC 24.14%

Submit

View All In Poll

“While we enjoy the pleasant sight of various bird species from across the world, it is equally important to understand their regular destinations. We need to focus on wetlands, mudflats and mangroves to keep ecological balance in check,” he reminds us.

BNHS has identified several wetlands as part of the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary (TCFS) satellite wetland management plan to be a refuge for birds during high tides. Sunil Agrawal of Save Navi Mumbai Environment Forum said the festival will also focus on the dwindling CRZ and constant threats to wetlands. The ongoing construction, adjoining the twin wetlands of NRI and TS Chanakya, is a glaring example of such violations.

Naresh Chandra Singh of Kharghar Wetlands & Hills expressed hope that the event will create awareness among citizens to shed apathy and start worrying about the constant damage to the environment under the guise of urban development. CIDCO has been neglecting the damage to wetlands and mangroves while also destroying the hills for levelling the golf course, Singh regretted.

Why tagging matters

During the time of migration, birds fly through the Central Asia Flyway. The BNHS tags these birds to learn about their destination. Tags attached to the legs of the birds help in identification and to keep track of their movements. Interestingly, BNHS has decided to radio tag flamingos, to help locate the birds via GPS.

On: May 14 time 12 pm onwards at Delhi Public Lake, Sector 32, Seawoods
Log on to: natconnectfoundation.com