Deepak Rajanna

Mumbai, for me, continues to be one of the most fascinating birding places in the world. You would think that wildlife watching would be hard in one of the most crowded cities in the world, but the fauna here is just as tenacious as the humans. In every corner of Mumbai you find rich ecosystems that defy all logic. Enormous credit should go to institutions that have made this preservation possible. It's not to say that we can take the bounty for granted. The concrete is creeping up on the mangroves and the forests, the industrial grime is taking over the waters, and polythene bags are squatting on every inch of the land. And yet, birds come in their thousands. Here's the pickings from Airoli creek.