Rare Brown Hawk-Owl sighted in Goregaon East society near Aarey

Picture credit: Mahesh Yadav

Talking to mid day Wildlife Lover and Naturalist Mahesh Yadav said, "On March 25 night, I was informed by the society members of a society at Gokuldham that they heard some unusual call of a bird in the night which they had never heard before. When I reached the building, I too heard the sound and I immediately realised that it was a call of Brown hawk owl. This species is spotted in Aarey forest and Sanjay Gandhi National Park but it's sighting in the housing society was something new to me. The sighting of the bird highlights the fact that Aarey forest and Sanjay Gandhi National Park has a very rich biodiversity and focus should be on protecting these important habitats."

Residents of a housing society in Gokuldham, Goregaon East, were in for a surprise when they heard the call of an unfamiliar bird on the night of March 25. Perplexed by the unusual sound, they promptly reached out to wildlife enthusiast and naturalist Mahesh Yadav, who has been documenting avian biodiversity in the area. Upon arriving at the location, Yadav identified the bird as a Brown Hawk-Owl (Ninox scutulata), a species typically found in Aarey Forest and the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP).

Speaking to Mid-Day, Yadav said, "On the night of March 25, residents of a housing society in Gokuldham informed me that they had heard a strange bird call, unlike anything they had encountered before. When I reached the site, I too heard the sound and immediately recognised it as the call of a Brown Hawk-Owl. While this species is known to inhabit Aarey Forest and SGNP, spotting it within a residential society was a completely new experience for me."

The sighting of the Brown Hawk-Owl within an urban setting underscores the rich biodiversity of Aarey Forest and SGNP. Yadav emphasised the importance of protecting these crucial habitats, which continue to serve as home to a wide variety of flora and fauna.