Dia Mirza with Avyaan at the flamingo safari
Nature lovers are celebrating the annual arrival of flamingos in the city. Conservationist and ardent nature lover Dia Mirza Rekhi joined Bombay Times for a flamingo safari at the Airoli Creek. The actress, who was accompanied by her three-and-a-half-year-old son, Avyaan, carried along her camera and binoculars to get a closer look at the majestic beauty of these migratory birds who transform the landscape with their stunning pink hues.
Dia Mirza goes flamingo spotting
‘We all co-exist and share space with nature and wildlife’
“Isn’t it incredible that we have biodiversity around us? That’s the magic of Mumbai — we co-exist and share space with nature and wildlife, too. While New York has Central Park, we have the Sanjay Gandhi National Park,” Dia said while hopping onto the speedboat, putting on her lifejacket and securing one on Avyaan. As the boat glided through the mangroves, a variety of bird species, such as herons, egrets and sandpipers, were visible. Dia and Avyaan (who was wearing a flamingo print shirt) were thrilled to spot a flock of flamingos through their binoculars.
Flamingos at Airoli creek
‘The formations by the flamingos in the sky are beautiful’
Dia recalled, “I remember when I was at an awards event, this experience was described as a pink satin ribbon on the waters, and that’s exactly what it feels like. It’s quite fascinating. What I love about flamingos is how magical it is to see them hop on the water and take off. Their formations in the sky are beautiful.”
Dia Mirza goes for a flamingo safari
‘We need to focus on keeping the mangroves clean’
While Dia was happy to spend the day around the mangroves, she was saddened by the sight of some plastic waste visible. “We need to focus on removing the plastic stuck in the mangrove forest. This is such a pristine space, and we must work together to keep it clean. The contrast here — the sky, the high rises, the mangrove forest and the pink flamingos — reveals the magic of Mumbai. We are deeply connected to our natural environment. Our health, well-being, peace and happiness all depend on the health of our environment.”
‘We’re lucky to have so many bird species visiting our garden’
Dia, who is a passionate birdwatcher, believes there’s a lot to learn from them. “I prefer to be a birder over anything else. It’s calming, meditative and beautiful to watch birds. We’re lucky to have so many bird species visiting our garden. Since Avyaan was a baby, I’ve been pointing out birds to him. Today, I didn’t just see flamingos, but also other migratory birds from around the world,” she said.
