525 When Flamingos Become Teachers

I soon learned that this was a Mangrove habitat and the pencils were called pneumatophores—specialized breathing roots that allow mangroves to survive in oxygen-poor soils. Mangroves themselves are halophytes, remarkable plants adapted to thrive in saline environments where many other species would struggle.

Tiny crabs occasionally peeked out from the cracks before disappearing again. I decided I don't want to get too friendly with them, considering I'd worn sandals and and quietly slipped to the back. We also noticed that the further some of us went into the mangroves, the cooler it became. Fr. Leon explained how the mangrove environment tends to have a cooler microclimate.

While everyone else seemed eager to explore further, I was half-scared that there would be some muddy patch which would suck me in and I would never be seen again. Thankfully, it did not.

As time passed by, I understood that the wetlands we saw are not isolated. They form part of the larger Thane Creek ecosystem, shaped by the tides of the Arabian Sea. Suddenly, the flamingos, the mangroves, the crabs, the tides, the creek, and even our train journey across Thane Creek - it all felt linked.

The flamingos led me to another question: Why do they come here?

Like many migratory birds, flamingos move in response to environmental conditions and food availability. The wetlands around Mumbai and Navi Mumbai have rich feeding grounds filled with algae and other organisms that sustain them. So, climate does play an important role, but food is often the more immediate driver.

This naturally led me to think about migration itself.

How do birds know where to go?

Scientists suggest that migratory birds rely on a remarkable combination of inherited instincts, environmental cues, the Earth's magnetic field, memory, and social learning. Young birds often follow experienced adults, passing migratory knowledge from one generation to the next.

Yet migration is not without risk. Birds must constantly balance opportunity against uncertainty. A habitat may offer abundant food, but it may also contain dangers such as pollution, habitat degradation, or changing environmental conditions.

The more I thought about migration, the more it felt connected to our human history. Humans too have migrated for food, water, safety, opportunity, and better living conditions. While the reasons differ, both birds and humans remind us that movement has always been part of life on Earth.

Looking back, what began as a simple birdwatching activity became an experience in experiential learning, inquiry-based learning, environmental education, and interdisciplinary thinking. Biology, geography, ecology, conservation, and even socialbehaviour all came together in a single morning!

Every observation led to questions. And some questions sparked deep conversations.

As a B.Ed. student, I have often heard my professors speak about learning beyond the classroom. This walk reminded me that some of the most meaningful lessons happen when we slow down, observe carefully, ask questions, and allow ourselves to be surprised by what we discover.

And somewhere out there, I know that there is an elusive but curious, spectacled flamingo just like me who is standing apart from the flock, quietly contemplating life's journey and wondering why these humans keep staring at it through binoculars.

Special thanks to Fr. Leon for organizing this wonderful walk, and to Leann and Marilyn for being such wonderful companions throughout the journey.

Photos - clicked by Leann, Marilyn and other DBYS group members

Map, mangroves & infographic image are AI- generated.