The migratory birds from Eurasia, Siberia and Europe are passing through Ahmednagar district and areas surrounding the city. The migration in winter, takes place because these birds descend to lower levels and with the return of spring, they ascend to breed at higher altitudes.

The birds prefer shallow water habitat and the Kapurawadi water reservoir near the outskirts of Ahmednagar city suits them perfectly. They come from the north and move southwards while passing through Ahmednagar, says Dr Sudhakar Kurade, an expert on birds and a member of the Nisarga Mitra Mandal, a non-registered organisation. Kurhade has published his Checklist Of Birds Of Ahmednagar.

A programme of World Bird Watch-99 was organised at the Kapurawadi reservoir recently. Twelve to fifteen members of the Nisarga Mitra Mandal went for the excursion. The birds were classified into two categories of migratory (M) and local migratory (LM).

These were reported from the city and its surrounding areas including Kapurawadi, Songaon, Deolgaon Siddhi, Pimpalgaon, Visapur dam, Alsunde in Karkjat taluka and Autewadi in Srigonda. The important birds in the area were painted stork, white necked stork, white ibis, glossy ibis, spoon bill, flamingo, branminy duck (which migrates from Ladakh), pintail (that migrates from Europe, North and Central Asia), common teal (that migrates from Northern Europe to Southern Siberia) among others.

The birds,usually swoop down in a flock of 2,000 to 4,000, says Kurhade who is also a member of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS).

Kurhade says that if water in the reservoirs sustains for a long time, then the birds could be watched till March otherwise till February. The Nisarga Mandal has demanded that the Kapurwadi and Pimpalgaon water reservoir be declared as ``bird areas'' or ``bird watching areas'' by local authorities. They should protect the birds as poaching is observed sometimes.