Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)

Udupi, Aug 22: A rare sighting of a lesser flamingo (popularly known as Raj Hamsa) near the Fish Mill in Malpe has created excitement among bird enthusiasts and ornithologists alike.

The lone flamingo was spotted in a small pond close to the Fish Mill in Malpe by birdwatchers Aditya, Mohit, Shanmukh Muroor, and Tejas Rao. Unlike their usual large flocks, this bird was found solitary, and experts believe it may have reached the Udupi coast after being swept away by monsoon winds.

Flamingos are generally seen in large numbers in Gujarat’s Kutch region and the Sewri mudflats of Mumbai.

According to senior ornithologist Prof Lakshminarayana Upadhyaya of Kundapur, this is the first time a flamingo has been sighted on the Udupi coast. If a flock had arrived, it is possible that they could have been spotted in the backwaters of Kodi and Pancha Gangavali in Kundapur. However, he added that such sightings are possible only if proper surveys are conducted in these areas.

Prof Shanmukhraj of MIT, Manipal, said that documenting this bird will be recorded in golden letters in the history of bird-watching in Udupi. Young birdwatcher Tejas Rao also echoed the same sentiment.

The flamingo belongs to the phoenicopteridae family, of which it is the sole representative. In India, there are two species—the greater flamingo and the lesser flamingo. The one spotted in Malpe is the lesser flamingo, which is smaller in size. These birds are commonly found in Gujarat’s Rann of Kutch, Rajasthan’s Sambhar Salt Lake, Point Calimere in Tamil Nadu, and Chilka Lake in Odisha. They are known to breed in the Great Rann of Kutch and in East Africa.

With its pale pink-and-white plumage, long slender legs, snake-like flexible neck, and a height of around one and a half meters when standing, the Lesser Flamingo is a striking bird. Its distinctively curved pinkish beak, bent slightly to one side, adds to its unique appearance.