Flamingos of Kutch (Unexplored Lands)

Flamingos at Jurong Bird Park, Singapore

The Jurong Bird Park- an open concept park is a must see for all, who visit Singapore. The bird park has the largest variety of birds in the world and is the largest bird park in Asia Pacific.

The water park, an enclosure for the aquatic birds, is a great place to sit and relax. The flamingos – the long legged, pink graceful birds flocked in the lake, oblivious to the happening around them was the picture I carried in  my memory when I walked out of the gates of this park.

This brought back fond memories, I had experienced during the days at Naliya, (a town 100km from Bhuj, Gujarat). It’s in the district of the Rann Of Kutch, the western most habitat town of India. The district of Kutch occupies about 24% of the total area of Gujarat and is second largest district in India, after Leh. The Rann of Kutch is unique and is the largest seasonal wetlands found in the world. The dry marshy lands of Kutch turn into huge wetlands during monsoon and provide as an excellent habitat for the local and migratory birds.It is the largest and the only known breeding ground of Greater and Lesser Flamingos in India.  Each year, about half a million flamingos migrate from hotter climates to the watery expanse of this area to breed. The best birding is during the winter months from October to March when waterfowls like Crane, Pelican and Lesser Flamingo are seen in incredibly large numbers. Flamingos build clay nests that rise above the salty waters of Kutch.  

These birds stand 5 feet tall and have a wing span of 55- 65 inches. The scene of these birds in flight, when they soar into the sky, taking refuge from the intruders, they become aware of, is a sight unseen by many. With its head and neck stretched out and the wings spanned out on both sides, the dark band underneath their pale pink wings can be best described only by poets. And to see a whole flock of these birds flying in the wide expanse of the sky above, is a moment that simulates the sky to blushing pink as if shying away, from the sheer beauty of the picture made by these birds.