Bhigwan Birds Upd 2021 Jun 2026
While the flamingos were missing, the census highlighted that Bhigwan remains a resilient biodiversity hotspot. Observers noted:
This absence of flamingos has had a ripple effect on the local tourism economy, which had grown around the "flamingo festival" that once drew thousands of visitors to the region.
: In addition to water birds, the nearby grasslands host rare species like the Indian Courser , Tawny Lark , and Steppe Eagle . bhigwan birds upd
: Unusually heavy, prolonged monsoon rains filled the Ujani Dam to capacity.
On a silent February morning in 2022, a birdwatcher from Bangalore sat at the Bhigwan watchtower for four hours. She saw nothing. No whistling ducks. No jacana. No moorhen. The water was the color of milky tea, heavy with pesticide runoff from the newly planted cane. While the flamingos were missing, the census highlighted
Data from the , which has run annual flamingo censuses here since 2021, indicates that Bhigwan typically welcomes between 1,000 and 2,000 Greater Flamingos each winter. The recent migratory cycle told a drastically different story. From June 2025 through April 2026 , scientists and local forest officials recorded a massive drop in numbers, with only sporadic, tiny flocks of 20 to 30 birds arriving briefly without settling.
“Flamingos late by 21 days. Only 2,000 so far.” The monsoon failed in Central Asia. The birds rerouted. Bhigwan was no longer a destination; it became a diversion. : Unusually heavy, prolonged monsoon rains filled the
The most significant development is a in the arrival of migratory flamingos:
The wetlands and dry grasslands of , widely celebrated as the "Bharatpur of Maharashtra," are currently experiencing an extraordinary environmental shift. Typically a seasonal winter haven, a prolonged summer combined with rapidly receding water levels has turned the backwaters of the Ujani Dam into a booming, late-season ecological hotspot. Birdwatchers, naturalists, and wildlife photographers are flocking to the region to document massive, unprecedented nesting activity and rare avian sightings. 🦩 The Current Scenario: A Summer Nesting Boom
Note: As of early May 2026, the winter migratory season is winding down. However, resident birds remain active.