Rare Laggar falcon spotted at Nalasopara, believed to be first record for Palghar district

A rare Laggar falcon was seen at the Gogte salt pan in Nalasopara on November 1. The species is believed to have been recorded in Palghar district for the first time.

Nature enthusiast Vaibhav Haldipur recorded the bird. He was leading a birdwatching trail on behalf of Jungle Buddies, accompanied by fellow birdwatcher Rikita Sheth. The bird was seen perched on the ground in a scrub area at 12.35 pm.

According to Haldipur, the species was last sighted in Mumbai in 2001. For this reason, the fresh report holds special significance for bird lovers and wildlife enthusiasts. The Laggar falcon (Falco jugger) is an uncommonly seen bird of prey in Maharashtra, with very few published records from the state. It is found in parts of the Indian subcontinent, but its population has declined in many of its areas. It is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.

Haldipur said, "This sighting also shows the environmental importance of the Vasai-Virar area, which is urbanising rapidly. The remaining natural habitats are under growing pressure from development, habitat fragmentation and other human-caused problems."

He also said that scrub and open areas are often overlooked in conservation planning, even though they are home to many kinds of birds, reptiles, mammals and insects. The recording of the Laggar falcon at Nalasopara shows that these habitats need to be monitored and their biodiversity systematically documented, he said.