Bird Walk at Shree Siddhanath Temple, Borim, Goa
- Goa
- 28 December, 2025
- WildFootPrints (Jalmesh)
About Shree Siddhanath Temple, Borim
Shree Siddhanath Temple at Borim is set within a semi-rural landscape along the Zuari river basin, surrounded by riverine vegetation, sacred groves, agricultural fields, and seasonal wetlands. While smaller in size compared to large wetlands, the temple landscape forms an important micro-habitat with mature trees, riparian vegetation, and open water patches that support diverse flora and fauna. Native trees, fruiting species, and dense canopy cover attract a rich assemblage of birds, including woodland species, riverine birds, and migratory visitors during winter.
The area also supports butterflies, small mammals, reptiles, and aquatic life linked to the river system. Increasing pressure from infrastructure development, waste disposal, noise, and reduced water quality threaten the ecological integrity of this sacred landscape. Conservation efforts here can be strengthened by safeguarding temple groves, maintaining river health, regulating human disturbance, and integrating traditional religious values with biodiversity conservation to protect this culturally and ecologically significant site.
Partnered with
Bird Guide: Jalmesh Karapurkar
He is the coordinator of the Goa Bird Atlas initiative and serves as the eBird Reviewer for Goa, playing a key role in documenting avian biodiversity across the state. He also runs an inclusive ecotourism initiative aimed at making nature and wildlife experiences accessible and enriching for all.
Bird walk Location
Common birds of Shree Siddhanath Temple
Shree Siddhanath Temple landscape supports an exceptionally rich assemblage of forest and riverine birds, reflecting the intact canopy, sacred groves, and surrounding semi-evergreen habitat. Ground and understorey species such as Indian Peafowl, Grey Junglefowl, Asian Emerald Dove, White-rumped Shama, babblers, fulvettas, and the frequently recorded Indian Scimitar-Babbler indicate healthy forest structure, while fruiting trees attract Malabar Imperial-Pigeon, Malabar Grey Hornbill, barbets, bulbuls, and leafbirds. The area also supports an impressive raptor diversity, including Lesser Adjutant, Crested Serpent-Eagle, Changeable Hawk-Eagle, and Crested Goshawk, highlighting its ecological importance. Canopy and edge habitats are animated by minivets, woodshrikes, flycatcher-shrikes, drongos, monarchs, paradise-flycatchers, and sunbirds, with Crimson-backed Sunbird being particularly abundant. The presence of Western Ghats endemics and forest specialists such as Vigors’s Sunbird, Flame-throated Bulbul, Nilgiri Flowerpecker, Malabar Barbet, and Asian Fairy-bluebird underscores the site’s high conservation value and the role of temple landscapes in safeguarding biodiversity in Goa.
White-rumped Shama
Asian Emarald Dove
Indian Peafowl
Brown-cheeked Fulvetta
Indian Scimitar Babbler
Greater-racket tailed Drongo
Black-hooded Oriole
Lesser Adjutant Stork
Asian Fairy Bluebird
Vernal hanging-Parrot
Malabar Grey hornbill
Vigor's Sunbird
Yellow-browed Bulbul
Scarlet Minivet
Nilgiri Flowerpecker
Greater Spotted Eagle
Flame-throated Bulbul
Crimson-backed Sunbird
Indian Paradise Flycatcher
Black-naped Monarch
Summary of Walk
The forest bird walk at Shree Siddhanath Temple in Borim, Ponda, brought together 20 enthusiastic participants under a breezy winter canopy. Set within dense woodland around the temple complex, the site offered a rich forest habitat that supports a wide variety of resident birds. Though strong winds initially limited clear sightings, the forest resonated with calls that hinted at the diversity hidden within its layered vegetation.
As the walk progressed, participants recorded impressive species including Fork-tailed Drongo Cuckoo, Malabar Imperial Pigeon, Yellow-browed Bulbul, Flame-throated Bulbul, Malabar Whistling Thrush, and Dark-fronted Babbler. The experience emphasized listening as much as seeing, with many species detected through sound before visual confirmation. Led by Jalmesh Karapurkar, the walk transformed challenging conditions into a rewarding exploration of forest acoustics and behavior, leaving participants with a deeper appreciation of woodland ecosystems.
Number of Participants
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