Migratory Birds Disappear from Telangana Lakes Amid Rapid Development
Once known for welcoming graceful pink flamingos every winter, Telangana’s lakes are now falling silent.
Flamingos, which symbolise grace and beauty, used to visit lakes in and around Hyderabad every year during the winter season. Water bodies like Gandipet and Ameenpur were popular resting spots for these migratory birds that travelled thousands of kilometres. However, this beautiful sight has slowly disappeared.
As Hyderabad expanded rapidly, many lakes were affected by construction and urban development. With their natural habitats disturbed, migratory birds moved to quieter and shallower lakes in districts like Karimnagar and Nizamabad. Sadly, even these areas are no longer safe for them.
In the name of “beautification”, many lakes have been redesigned, ignoring their natural ecosystems. This has driven away not only flamingos but also several other migratory birds such as bar-headed geese, northern shovelers, pintails, pochards, ducks, godwits, shelducks, garganeys and many wader species.
The situation is now the same in Warangal and Hanamkonda. Out of 42 lakes in these districts, 38 have been beautified. These lakes once attracted large numbers of migratory birds but have now lost most of them. Even local bird species are disappearing as trees, vegetation and shallow waters have been removed.
According to Nageshwar Rao from the Orugallu Wildlife Society, the absence of Greater Flamingos for more than three years clearly shows the damage caused by human activities. He says lake development has ignored biodiversity and natural balance.
Chitra Shankar, principal scientist at the Indian Institute of Rice Research and an experienced bird watcher, says rapid urbanisation and pollution are pushing birds away. She adds that this year’s heavy rains have filled lakes completely, which is unsuitable for birds like flamingos that prefer shallow waters.
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Wildlife photographer Shyam Sunder, who has documented birds for years, calls the situation heartbreaking. He says migratory bird activity is now almost zero. Trees have been cut, lakes dried during construction, and vegetation removed, leaving no food or shelter for birds.
Some birds have now shifted to remote and undisturbed lakes in places like Husnabad and rural parts of Karimnagar. For bird lovers in cities, this is disappointing news.
As National Bird Day approaches on January 5, this serves as an important reminder. Lake development should focus not just on beauty, but on protecting nature, wildlife and biodiversity before it is too late.
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