Attention Birdwatchers: Birding Marathon to Document Migratory Birds and Boost Conservation Efforts Organized at Pune’s Vetal Tekdi
Attention Birdwatchers: Birding Marathon to Document Migratory Birds and Boost Conservation Efforts Organized at Pune’s Vetal Tekdi
Rare European Honey Buzzard sighting highlights Vetal Tekdi as a biodiversity hotspot
As winter settles in, Pune’s Vetal Tekdi has become a temporary haven for various migratory bird species, drawing bird enthusiasts to a week-long birding marathon organized by the Vetal Tekdi Bachav Kruti Samiti (VTBKS). The marathon, running from November 5 to 12, aims to celebrate Bird Week or Pakshi Saptah, an annual event dedicated to honoring legendary ornithologists Dr. Salim Ali and Shri Maruti Chitampalli, who inspired generations of birdwatchers in India.
We are all set to 🚀
— Ranjeet Rane (@OldWonk) November 1, 2024
Participating in the #VetalTekdi_BirdingMarathon is as easy as 1.. 2.. 3.. 👇🏽
1. Register — https://t.co/OdgdHhI4j8
2. Bird at #VetalTekdi between 5th to 12th November
3. Share your checklists and trip reports with Ebird ID “vtbm2024”#VTBM2024 🏆 https://t.co/3UyxeXGV01 pic.twitter.com/lAAFuH1ONR
Do join and share your sightings#VetalTekdi https://t.co/AaeJAFYql5
— Vetal Tekdi Bachav Kruti Samiti (@VTBKS_Pune) November 5, 2024
Birders of all ages, including families and children, are participating in the marathon, traversing multiple trails to spot and document migratory birds. This event provides an opportunity to connect the community with Vetal Tekdi’s unique ecology, and participants are encouraged to share checklists and reports using the eBird ID “vtbm2024.” Registration for the event is available at (https://bit.ly/VTBM2024).
The highlight of this year’s marathon is the unexpected sighting of a European Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus), marking Maharashtra’s first recorded sighting of this rare species. Birders Aniruddha Gokhale, Mayur Arole, and Pankaj Inamdar, alongside young enthusiasts Shamik Parab and Nishad Homkar, documented the sighting on eBird, a leading citizen science platform. This record adds to a list of rare species observed at Vetal Tekdi and emphasizes the area’s status as a critical biodiversity spot that deserves recognition as a natural heritage site for Pune.
Social media channels and WhatsApp groups in Pune’s birding community have been buzzing with excitement over the discovery. Birding sites across Maharashtra, including the Western Ghats, Nandur Madhmeshwar in Nashik and Bhigwan near Pune, serve as crucial stopovers for birds migrating from as far as Africa and the Himalayas, yet this sighting at Vetal Tekdi stands out.
This marathon not only contributes to ecological documentation but also promotes sustainable tourism by engaging the public in appreciating and conserving Pune’s rich natural landscapes. Dr. Salim Ali and Shri Maruti Chitampalli’s legacies are vividly alive as enthusiasts continue to document Pune’s feathered visitors, reinforcing Vetal Tekdi’s role as an invaluable part of the city’s environmental heritage.
