Bird Walk at Vetal Tekdi, Pune

  • Pune
  • 16 August, 2026
  • Samay Srivastava

About Vetal Tekdi

Vetal Tekdi in Pune, Maharashtra, is a leafy natural gem rising above the city as part of the Vetal Hill complex — a spur of the Western Ghats that forms Pune’s highest point and stretches across sprawling grassland and scrub habitats interwoven with dry deciduous woodland. Traditionally a grass-scrub ecosystem, the hill today supports a rich mix of native trees, shrubs and herbaceous flora, alongside some exotic plantations, and boasts remarkable biodiversity for an urban landscape. Its abandoned stone quarries and monsoon ponds attract a variety of life, from reptiles and invertebrates to mammals, but it is most celebrated for its varied birdlife, with birding events regularly recording over 150 species, including resident woodland birds and seasonal migrants such as flycatchers, bee-eaters and raptors. Locals and naturalists alike relish early morning walks here, enjoying the calls of woodshrikes, orioles and parakeets amid the scrub and forest edges, as well as sightings around the quarry waterbody that draw keen birders.

Despite its natural charm, Vetal Tekdi faces mounting conservation challenges typical of urban green spaces. Proposed infrastructure projects from new roads and transit routes to slope development threaten to fragment its habitats, cut down significant tree cover and disrupt groundwater recharge zones that sustain the hill’s vegetation and wildlife. Environmental surveys have shown a diversity of tree species, shrubs, climbers and fauna that could be severely impacted by such development, prompting strong opposition from residents and activists who argue the hill’s ecological value outweighs short-term urban gains. There’s also concern about invasive plant species and unplanned afforestation altering the native grassland character, and human pressures like unregulated trails and disturbance around water bodies. Protecting Vetal Tekdi means balancing Pune’s growth with sustained conservation, community stewardship and habitat management to preserve this urban biodiversity hotspot for future generations.

Bird Guide - Samay Srivastava

He is a passionate young birder from Pune Maharashtra. He has been birding for nearly 7 years, and documented 750+ bird species across the world. His goal is too see all the birds of the world and inspire fellow birders and Naturalists.

Bird walk Location

Common birds of Vetal Tekdi

Vetal Tekdi is a vibrant haven for birdlife, with an extraordinary 284 species recorded so far, making it one of Pune’s most rewarding urban birding destinations. Its grasslands, scrub, wooded slopes, and quarry waterbodies host a rich mix of birds—from water-associated species like Indian Spot-billed Duck, Eurasian Moorhen, Little and Great Cormorants, Indian Pond Heron, Little Egret, and Common Sandpiper, to open-country and scrub specialists such as Red-wattled Lapwing, Laughing Dove, Spotted Dove, and Greater Coucal. Raptors like the Black Kite, Black-winged Kite, and Booted Eagle soar above the hill, while evenings may reveal the cryptic Indian Nightjar and the watchful Spotted Owlet. Colour and sound come courtesy of Asian Green Bee-eaters, Asian Koel, and a striking trio of parakeets—Alexandrine, Rose-ringed, and Plum-headed—alongside familiar urban species like Rock Pigeon and the occasional Indian Peafowl. This remarkable diversity, packed into a single hill complex, highlights Vetal Tekdi’s importance as a living refuge for birds within an ever-growing city.
Indian Spot-billed Duck
Indian Peafowl
Spotted Dove
Asian Koel
Asian Palm Swift

Red-wattled Lapwing
Common Sandpiper
Little Egret
Eurasian Moorhen
Indian Pond Heron
Black Kite
Spotted Owlet
Asian Green Bee-eater
Alexandrine Parakeet
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Plum-headed Parakeet
Black Drongo
Red-vented Bulbul
Greater Coucal
Common Myna

Summary of Walk

Twenty-three participants set out with guide Samay Srivastava across Vetal Tekdi, a hill forest in the heart of Pune known for its varied scrub, rocky outcrops, and wooded habitats rising above the city. The walk began with a briefing on the site’s ecosystems and an icebreaker introduction activity before the group moved through three distinct habitats over the course of the trail. Along the way, Samay explained behaviour-based identification techniques for each species encountered, helping participants understand not just what they were seeing but why the birds were behaving the way they were in each microhabitat. By the end of the walk, the group had logged an impressive 57 species, with the rare Alpine Swift and a flock of five Rufous Treepies standing out as the top highlights of the morning. Baya Weavers were seen actively nesting, and Spot-billed Ducks were also spotted during the walk, rounding out a strong mix of raptors, waterbirds, and woodland species typical of Vetal Tekdi’s diverse terrain and elevation gradient. The session closed with a printed quiz covering facts shared during the walk, giving participants a fun, interactive way to reinforce what they had learned about the birdlife of this well-loved urban forest before heading home for the day.
Number of Participants
0
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ATAAVI Bird Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering a deeper connection between people and the avian diversity of India. Through advocacy, education and conservation efforts, we strive to increase awareness and appreciation for birds across communities.

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