Mumbai: A delay in the arrival of flamingoes in the city has raised fears that the migratory birds might have shifted their arrival to another spot.

The large pink to scarlet web-footed wading birds flock to the mudflats near Uran and Sewree in search of the blue green algae on which it thrives. However, it seems that they have settled at some other nearby place where food is abundant, Scientist-in-charge of Envis Centre of Bombay Natural History Society Sanjay Narvade told PTI here today.

"Of late, the habitat near Sewree in Central Mumbai has suffered due to shipping works, oil dispersal and dying mangroves. So, it is quite possible that the migratory birds might have moved on," Narvade said.

However, he said, there is still hope and we should wait for at least one month before making any final conclusion.

Few years ago the gregarious bird, with a down-bent bill, generally used to arrive here as early as October and stayed on upto March-April or till the first rainfall.

Blaming global warming for the birds delay, assistant programme officer of BNHS Nikhil Bhopale said, "Around 10,000 flamingoes were spotted in Mumbai last year but only 100-150 have been seen this year near Uran city in Raigad district.

"The birds that have been sighted this year are not the visiting birds but the local ones. However, some visitors were seen in Bigvan, Pune," he said, adding, on a brighter note though, the birds had similarly arrived late last year, so there is no reason why we should not expect them now.

First spotted in Mumbai in 1994,the flamingoes have their breeding ground in Kutch region of Gujarat.

Two species of the bird-- the Greater Flamingo and the Lesser Flamingo-- visit the city, while the former prefers freshwater lakes, the latter has a liking for marine and coastal areas.
Source : PTI