Green Pigeon

April is not a good month to for bird watching as it is very hot and dry during this period. However, if you plan to spot birds at any of the nearby areas, an early morning trip is the best bet.

We reached Karnala Bird Sanctuary (KBS) at around 6.45 a.m, much before it got crowded with the trekking groups moving towards the fort. KBS is around 30 km from Thane / Mumbai on the Goa highway. At this time of the year, after the spring season, most of trees appear fresh and green due to sprouting of new leaves. Very soon, they will turn dry and dusty owing to the summer heat, until the arrival of the rains. As we walked about in the sanctuary, we noticed that the grass and undergrowth in some parts of the sanctuary on the path towards the fort, was burnt dry. The forest personnel were unable to explain the cause of the fire though it was almost next to the rest-house. Unless it was done deliberately to stimulate growth of grass, one hopes the department takes all preventive measures to avoid such fires.

Birds spotted: Pampadour Green Pigeon, Golden-fronted Leaf bird, Racket-tailed Drongo and caught a glimpse of a large raptor, which could not be identified.
 
I have no idea why the Pampadour Green Pigeon was so strangely named. It is an arboreal bird and keeps to upper reaches of fruit or berry trees, and is not easily spotted.
Status: Uncommon

Golden-fronted Leaf bird: Status: common and frequently spotted.

Plastic-free zone
The sanctuary is a plastic-free zone, which is monitored by the forest department. This makes one wonder - if regulations can be implemented in such areas, why cannot the same be done in the city? Unless existing regulations regarding ban of thin plastics (less than 50 micron thickness) are enforced strongly, and awareness is created among the citizens, the use of plastics will continue unabated.