Pics by Rons Bantwal

Mumbai, Apr 17: Over 10,000 Mumbaikars flocked to Sewri for the Flamingo Festival on Saturday, April 16, hoping to catch a glimpse of the pink-winged visitor.

The fifth edition of the festival, organized by Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), saw a record turnout this year. Apart from avid bird-watchers, several amateurs also turned up for the festival. "Such events create a great platform for the average Mumbaikar and nature enthusiasts to spend the day together bird watching," said Atul Sathe, public relations officer, BNHS, adding, "It will also help in conserving the ecologically important site from threats such as habitat destruction."

The first documented sighting of flamingos in Mumbai was in the late 1980s. Since then, flamingos have been frequently spotted at the Sewri mudflats, Mahul Jetty, Airoli Bridge, Vashi Bridge and Uran. This year, more than 10,000 greater and lesser flamingos have arrived in the city.

At the festival, participants got to learn about the nature, peculiarities and intriguing features of the pink migrants. In a symbolic gesture, schoolchildren, teachers and other visitors signed on a wall, pledging their support to save the flamingos and their habitat. Yet another attraction at the festival was the 'Span your Wings' section, where one could stretch one's arms and compare it with the wingspan of birds
including the golden eagle, flamingo and the Great Indian Bustard amongst others.

"I was amazed to find flamingos in such huge numbers and that too at the same spot," said 10-year-old Hope Bagwadia, who was here for the second year in a row. "Such events should be encouraged as they help create awareness about the migratory birds," said Cyrus Bagwadia, her father.

Apart from flamingos, numerous migratory wader species like sandpipers, godwits, stints and plovers have also been spotted in large numbers at Sewri. Kamlesh Patel, father of two-and-half-year-old Jaitashree had come all the way from Bhayander with his daughter to see the pink beauties. "I never imagined that I would be able to see the flamingos from such a close distance. It is an amazing sight to see these birds in a feeding frenzy," he said.

"Mumbai is fast losing touch with nature, and such events are necessary to help familiarize citizens with their surroundings," said Kushagra Singh, another visitor at the festival.