Bird Walk at Chelekere Lake , Babusabpalya, Kalyan Nagar
- Bengaluru
- 13 September, 2026
- Priya Dharshni
About Chelekere Lake
Chelekere Lake is an urban wetland in Bengaluru that forms an important green and aquatic space within the city’s rapidly developing landscape. The lake and its surrounding areas include open water, marshy edges, wetland vegetation and patches of trees and shrubs, creating a varied habitat that supports both aquatic and terrestrial wildlife. These habitats also change with seasonal water levels, influencing the vegetation and ecological character of the lake throughout the year. Its location within a highly urbanised part of Bengaluru makes the persistence of such wetland habitats particularly valuable for maintaining local biodiversity.
The lake is surrounded by a mix of residential development, roads and other urban infrastructure, making it an example of how natural habitats can persist within a city environment. The vegetation around the lake provides shelter and feeding opportunities for smaller birds and other wildlife, while the open water and wetland margins contribute to the ecological functioning of the site. Like many urban lakes in Bengaluru, maintaining water quality, protecting the shoreline and retaining natural vegetation are important for preserving its ecological value. Chelekere Lake therefore serves not only as a local recreational and nature space but also as an important urban habitat that contributes to Bengaluru’s network of lakes and green spaces.
Bird Guide: Priya Dharshni
They have been birdwatching for the past 3–4 years, with a strong interest in ecology and bird behaviour. As part of their Master’s thesis, they studied bird diversity in the paddy fields of Tirunelveli and have also worked on the acoustic communication of mixed-species flocks in Agumbe, Karnataka.
Bird walk Location
Common birds of Chelekere Lake
Chelekere Lake supports a diverse mix of wetland, woodland and urban-adapted birds. The aquatic habitat attracts Little Cormorant, Great Cormorant, Oriental Darter, Little Grebe, Indian Spot-billed Duck, Indian Pond-Heron, Little Egret and Black-crowned Night Heron. White-breasted Waterhen is associated with the wetland margins, while Gray Heron adds to the variety of waterbirds using the lake. The surrounding vegetation supports species such as Indian White-eye, Asian Tit, Pale-billed Flowerpecker, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Common Tailorbird, White-cheeked Barbet, Rose-ringed Parakeet and Greater Coucal. White-throated Kingfisher is also recorded around the lake, while Black Kite and Shikra represent the site’s raptor diversity. Rock Pigeon, House Crow and Asian Koel are among the species able to thrive alongside the surrounding urban environment. Together, these records highlight the importance of Chelekere Lake as a refuge for a wide range of birds within Bengaluru’s urban landscape.
Indian Spot-billed Duck
Greater Coucal
Asian Koel
White-breasted Waterhen
Little Grebe
Oriental Darter
Great Cormorant
Black-crowned Night Heron
Little Egret
Indian Pond-Heron
Grey Heron
Shikra
Black Kite
White-throated Kingfisher
White-cheeked Barbet
Rose-ringed Parakeet
House Crow
Common Tailorbird
Ashy Prinia
Red-whiskered Bulbul
Summary of Walk
Chelekere Lake in Bengaluru’s Kalyan Nagar area hosted an engaging bird walk on 13 September, with 18 participants led by guide Priya Dharshni. The group, which included both adults and children, spotted a good mix of water birds and woodland species across the lake and its surrounding greenery.
The walk yielded 24 species, with the Grey Wagtail, Asian Tit, and Shikra among the highlights. A bird bingo activity kept younger participants especially engaged, adding a fun, interactive element to the session for the mixed-age group. It made for a lively and enjoyable morning of birding at Chelekere Lake.
Number of Participants
0
