Marine birds

Mumbai has an excellent coast-line with a combination of sandy beaches and mud-flats – the type of habitat preferred by marine birds during their annual sojourn to warmer climates. Those of us who have witnessed this annual migration of thousands of migratory birds from the far shores can really consider themselves privileged.

One would have noticed that large populations of birds are found on mud-flats and not on sandy sea-shores and there are reasons why this occurs.

It is well known that sandy shores occur only on open sea-facing shores, where the force of waves is resisted by gently sloping land surfaces. Mud-flats are formed in the relatively less turbulent waters of estuaries and creeks. This allows the plants that grow there (mangroves) to absorb the forces of waves and permit marine creatures to live in them. Also, burrows (made by crabs, mollusks and other echinoderms) have far better stability in the mud-flats than in sand. Additionally, when you consider that seawater over mud-flats is warmer, much shallower, and with lower turbulence than sandy shores, the bird population is naturally higher.  

During our rides along the Thane-Vashi creek, we found all types of waste dumped into the sea; this included large thermocole decorative pieces, plastic bags of all sorts, plastic fiber bags, food and the ever present pooja items wrapped in plastic. Most of the waste can and should be disposed at designated municipal waste bins earmarked for this specific purpose. 

It is upto us to save Mumbai’s magnificent coast-line. Lets do our best.

Doves

Several species of doves are common in India. Of these, the Ring Dove, Red Collared-Dove, Little Brown Dove and the most common, Spotted Dove, share general characteristics. They are more or less of the size of common rock pigeon and frequent dry regions near cultivated land, in flocks of two or more. Often, birds of these species can be spotted together in open land, especially on babool (acacia) trees. Their calls can sound similar to a lay person, coo-coo-coooo.., but there are quite distinct variations in tone which can easily be recognized through experience.

The Ring Dove is pale gray in appearance, with a black collar on its neck.  Its tail is dark brown and lower parts of its wings have a bluish tint. Sexes are alike.

Alternate name: Eurasian Collared Dove.

Note the dove's throat bulging outwards when makes its typical call

Red Collared-Dove has distinctive light blue head parts, with rust-brown body and dark-brown tail, tinged with white feathers. The female is much duller in comparison and resembles the Ring Dove. Quite uncommon and not easily spotted.

Laughing Dove

Location: Nannaj

Also refer post on Laughing Dove and Spotted Dove.