Greater flamingos sighted for the first time at Kere Bhosga

Painted storks sighted at the S.B. lake during bird count event in Kalaburagi.

The four-day Karnataka Rajyotsava Bird Count (KRBC), an initiative by eBird held from October 30 to November 2, recorded 139 bird species, generating 79 checklists with 18 birds participating, highlighting the region’s avian diversity. A major highlight was the sighting of greater flamingos at Bhosga Kere for the first time.

A bird walk on this occasion was organised by local group Winged Endeavours as part of the first State-wide initiative under the eBird platform; the exercise aimed to document Karnataka’s bird diversity, recording 62 species across the city during the birding session.

Painted storks sighted at the S.B. lake during the bird count event in Kalaburagi.

K.S. Aishwarya of Winged Endeavours led the participants of the bird walk across different locations, including lakes and birding hot spots in the city, introducing them to birdwatching and encouraging them to document local birdlife.

Among the species recorded were the purple heron, river tern and Eurasian spoonbill. Migratory visitors included the greater flamingo, common sandpiper, northern shoveler and rosy starling.

Explaining bird migration patterns, Ms. Aishwarya said the movement was driven primarily by a lack of food availability. Depletion of food resources in their native habitats prompted birds to move to regions offering better feeding opportunities. Some destinations also served as breeding grounds, improving the survival prospects of their young, she said.

Kalaburagi’s relatively mild winters make it a suitable seasonal habitat for migratory birds escaping severe cold in their native ranges. Winter visitors are generally spotted in the region from October to early March, she added.

The northern shoveler migrates from Russia, Siberia, Europe and Central Asia, while the common sandpiper arrives from Europe and northern Asia. Greater flamingos visit from parts of Central Asia, including Kazakhstan, and the Middle East. Rosy starlings arrive from Eastern Europe and Central Asia, attracted by grain crops and insects.

Systematic documentation helps understand their seasonal movements and distribution, they said. The observations uploaded to eBird provide useful data for researchers and conservationists studying bird diversity and migration patterns.