as the year ends the focus is around kankaria lake while walking around it one can see many birds which have made their home in and around the lake some migratory birds also pass by during winter months it has become a bird watchers paradise it is a delight to see birds sitting on the ancient stone pavilions built around hauz e kutb and naginawadi fortunately somebody decided to change the colour of naginawadi from pinky pastry to yellowishwhite this entire area abounds in many species of birds especially water birds as they can fish for food while roosting and nesting in the trees some birds have a double advantage as they fish in the lake and also find tidbits for themselves in the open water bird aviaries of the zoo flamingoes pelicans painted storks and even enclosures of crocodiles and deer here there are innumerable colonies of crows and it is said that until recently flying foxes better known as bats lived in the trees of this area and during the twilight hour patrolled the evening sky and talking about underwater life the lake is full of fish like carp tilapia catfish and guppies even before the traffic was stopped around the lake the birds had learnt to manoeuvre the traffic and flew from the lake to the trees near football ground to kamla nehru zoological gardens chacha nehru balvatika reuben david natural history museum and naginawadi it was amazing to see these birds flying unhurt over the large and small vehicles it was almost like our domestic animals which cross the road with great expertise the fragrance of water attracts birds and the denizens of the zoo have prospered because of the proximity to the lake it makes all the difference to be placed near a natural water body the zoo authorities have made a general list of birds in the area so if you are a bird watcher look out for drongos cormorants kites herons egrets ibis painted stork spoonbills vultures purple moorhen lapwing parakeets kingfishers common green beeeaters mynahs babblers sunbirds tailorbirds robins bulbuls crowpheasant look out to for the sparkling wings of a golden oriole and sometimes when the water level drops do not be surprised to see pelicans and flamingoes in the lake long back on a moonlit night it is said that a florican a rare endangered bird flying over the zoo fell at the entrance it was rescued treated and released back into the wild so as 2008 readies to take flight wish you a happy new year