After a Decade, Rare Birds Come Back as Migrant Numbers Jump in Pune
After a Decade, Rare Birds Come Back as Migrant Numbers Jump in Pune
Winter birding in Pune has taken an extraordinary turn this year, surprising local naturalists with the sudden rise of rare migrant species across the city’s hill ranges. What was once considered a quiet season has transformed into one filled with unusual sightings, prolonged stopovers, and the return of birds that had vanished from the region for nearly a decade.
Wildlife biologist Arnav Gandhe, who has monitored Mahatma Tekdi for more than ten years, described this season as one of the most remarkable he has ever recorded. His biggest shock came earlier this week when an Amur falcon appeared on Mahatma Tekdi — a bird last seen on the same hill back in 2012–13. After twelve long years, the species has suddenly resurfaced, stirring excitement among birders. Known for its extraordinary migration from the Amur region of Russia and northeast China toward southern Africa, this raptor rarely stops in landlocked hill patches like this one.
The revival hasn’t ended there. Pune has also welcomed the return of the Egyptian vulture and the common buzzard — ironically a scarce winter visitor despite its name. For species such as the Eurasian hobby, Amur falcon, and common buzzard, one or two sightings a season used to be typical. This year alone, some have already been spotted twice within a month. Even more surprising is the lingering presence of cuckoos. Passage migrants like the lesser cuckoo and common cuckoo, which usually remain for only a day or two, have stayed far longer than expected.
Mahatma Tekdi has recorded nearly 50% more raptor species compared to last year. New entries this season include the Eurasian hobby, Montagu’s harrier, steppe eagle, and Eurasian sparrowhawk. A pair of common kestrels has even settled in as winter residents, hunting on the hill with noticeable regularity. Between October and December 2024, the hill had logged 152 species; this year, by the end of November alone, the count has already surged to 174 species, Gandhe noted, calling the hill one of Pune’s most vibrant birding hotspots.
Vetal Tekdi mirrors this trend. Birders have reported the European roller, Eurasian hobby, common buzzard, verditer flycatcher, and multiple cuckoo species in recent weeks. Birder Dhruva Punde confirmed that migrant numbers at Vetal Tekdi are significantly higher than those seen in the last two to three years. The hills are witnessing steady appearances of harriers, kestrels, and different eagles — including booted eagles, snake eagles, and short-toed snake eagles. Many passage migrants, birds that travel through India rather than wintering here, have been turning up at Pashan Lake, Mahatma Tekdi, and Vetal Tekdi.
Nature enthusiast Sujal Kulkarni, a regular visitor to Vetal Tekdi, recalled that the lesser cuckoo was last sighted there in 2021. This year, not only did it reappear, but it also stayed longer than usual. Meanwhile, the brown-breasted flycatcher, typically observed in the Sahyadri ranges including the Tamhini forests, has been recorded for the first time at both Vetal Tekdi and Pashan Lake.
Another remarkable record comes from the Panchvati area’s Vrindavan Society, where a flock of six vernal hanging parrots settled from July and remained for nearly three and a half months. While they have been occasionally spotted on the city’s outskirts, such prolonged sightings within urban limits are rare. These parrots normally linger near farmlands close to the Western Ghats.
According to Kulkarni, extended monsoon showers kept the landscape lush well into October. This created ideal conditions by boosting populations of insects, reptiles, and rodents — prey that attracts raptors and other migrants. With Pune’s outskirts changing rapidly, the city’s hills now offer richer habitats than many fringe areas. This combination has likely driven the unusual spike in bird activity.
Birdwatchers also believe the absence of Pune’s characteristic October heat disrupted typical migration patterns. October usually serves as an exploratory period when migrants test various habitat pockets before settling. Prolonged cloudy weather and late rains may have caused many species to remain on whichever hill they arrived first, instead of continuing their journey.
