Posh colonies turn saviour for national bird

Indore: Residents of Gulmohar, Saket and nearby areas have embarked on a drive to protect the national bird, peacock.
Ornithologist and bird watcher Ajay Gadikar said the residents are sensitizing their relatives and friends to provide shelter to these birds, which are often seen in these areas. “Normally these birds are seen on the rooftops of the houses falling in societies like Gulmohar, Saket, Baikuntdham, Manishpuri, Telephone Nagar and others.The resident have joined hands for the cause and are trying to find best potential habitats for peacocks,” he said, adding that around 50 peacocks are seen in these areas. According to him, generally it is hard to see peacocks in urban areas, but in these posh areas, peacocks and peahens may be seen roaming around freely, as here the houses have lush green gardens, large trees and swimming pools, which becomes a perfect habitat for these birds.
Bird watcher and expert, Bhalu Mondhe, said, “I also reside in Palasia and have seen that big trees facilitate a resting place for these birds at night. People are welcoming these birds and helping them to find good habitat near their houses.” He added that normally these birds are not very shy and can easily remain near human establishments. “If they feel protected they can easily reside in your lawn or gardens,” he said. Shreya Kothari, a resident of Saket, said, “Often we get to see peacocks in our garden and luckily we had seen them dancing. We love their visit to our place and therefore my family keeps grains to feed them.”
It is also an initiative by the Indore Municipal Corporation along with local residents to make it a safe haven for this bird. Gadikar further told that these birds need to be protected during summers, as they die in the absence of a shelter to protect them from heat. “Peacocks die in summer when they are not able to dissipate heat because they cannot find cool shelters. Therefore, we need to find more such pockets where these birds can live,” he said. There are many places in Indore where the peafowl still roam freely like Residency area, police training ground, and Daly College. Ralamandal sanctuary has more than 100 birds and the nearby villages also have a good number of these birds. In July-August, which is their breeding time, these birds require additional protection from feral dogs so that they can breed successfully.