The primary reason cited for this decline is the unusually heavy rainfall during the 2025 monsoon season, which led to alarmingly high water levels in the Ujani (also spelled Ujjani) reservoir, a man-made wetland on the Bhima River. Flamingos are filter-feeders that thrive in shallow water, where they can easily access the algae and small crustaceans that form their diet. With the reservoir's water levels remaining high, these foraging grounds became inaccessible, likely forcing the birds to seek more suitable habitats elsewhere.
The bureaucrat of the marsh. Slow, deliberate, judgmental. An “upd” about them is rarely about numbers; it is about behavior. “Painted storks feeding in sewage runoff near temple ghat” is not a sighting; it is an indictment.
The surrounding grasslands are alive! Lucky visitors have recently spotted Indian Grey Wolves , , and even Fox families . Quick Tips for Your Visit: bhigwan birds upd
This marked a noticeable dip in overall numbers compared to the previous year's census on January 26, 2025, which recorded 7,467 birds belonging to 122 species. Significantly, waterbirds that prefer shallow-water habitats, most notably the flamingos, were not recorded during the 2026 count.
Bhigwan features two completely distinct ecosystems within a few kilometers of each other: the sprawling wetlands and the adjacent arid grasslands. The Guide: The Backwater of Bhigwan - Roundglass Sustain The primary reason cited for this decline is
: Following heavy monsoon rains in 2025, water levels in the Ujani Dam remained significantly higher than normal through early 2026.
The “update” is always a negotiation with this geography. When the dam releases water for the sugarcane crop, the birds vanish. When the gates close, the mudflats emerge, teeming with tubifex worms and tiny carp. The birds don't read calendars; they read the body language of the dam keeper in the control room 30 kilometers away. The bureaucrat of the marsh
Key sightings (recent trends)
The 2025–2026 migratory season has been one of the most talked-about and, for many, concerning periods in the sanctuary's recent history. The updates tell a story where climate patterns directly intersect with wildlife visibility.