Bird Walk at Vibhutipura Kere, Bengaluru
- Bengaluru
- 1 February, 2026
- Manasvi Dadbhawala
About Vibhutipura Kere
Vibhutipura Kere is a historic urban lake in southeast Bengaluru, spread over roughly 40–45 acres near the HAL–Vignananagar area. Part of the larger Bellandur–Varthur lake network, it plays an important role in local hydrology by capturing monsoon runoff and supporting groundwater recharge. Despite being surrounded by dense residential and commercial development, the lake still retains the feel of an open wetland landscape, with gently sloping bunds, shallow waters, and pockets of green that offer relief from the city’s hard edges. Community-led initiatives over the years have helped improve access and awareness, making Vibhutipura Kere a popular spot for walkers, joggers, and nature enthusiasts.
Ecologically, the lake functions as a freshwater wetland, supporting aquatic plants, marshy vegetation along its margins, and seasonal grasses that provide shelter and food for wildlife. It is especially valued by birders, as it attracts a variety of waterbirds such as egrets, herons, cormorants, moorhens, and occasional migratory visitors, along with raptors and common urban birds that use the lake for foraging. However, Vibhutipura Kere faces persistent threats from sewage inflow, pollution, encroachment, and excessive growth of invasive aquatic plants, all of which degrade water quality and habitat health. Ongoing conservation efforts—driven by local citizen groups and supported by civic agencies—focus on pollution control, desilting, and habitat restoration, highlighting how active stewardship is key to keeping this urban lake alive for both biodiversity and people.
Partnered with
Bird Guide: Manasvi Dadbhawala
A 16 year old birder and writer from Bengaluru. She has been birding since last 7 years, using ebird to record all observations. She has written and illustrated a children's novella "Wings Stretched Out" about an Oriole's migration. She has also published a short story "In the Eyes of a pigeon" in anthology by Jane Goodall's roots and shoots foundation. She loves using stories to express her fascination with birds.
Bird walk Location
Common birds of Vibhutipura Kere
Vibhutipura Kere is a vibrant haven for birds, with an impressive 181 species recorded, making it one of the richer birding sites within Bengaluru’s urban landscape. The lake regularly hosts a lively mix of waterbirds and wetland specialists—Indian Spot-billed Ducks paddle across open waters, while Eurasian Moorhens, White-breasted Waterhens, and Gray-headed Swamphens slip through reed beds and floating vegetation. Waders such as Black-winged Stilts, Red-wattled Lapwings, Bronze-winged Jacanas, and Wood Sandpipers forage along muddy edges, sharing space with elegant herons, egrets, ibises, and occasional Painted Storks. Overhead, River Terns skim the surface and raptors like Shikra, Black Kite, and Brahminy Kite patrol the skies, while familiar urban birds such as Rock Pigeons and White-throated Kingfishers add colour and movement. This rich assemblage reflects the lake’s importance as a feeding, roosting, and seasonal refuge for birds, underlining its value not just as a neighborhood green space, but as a key urban biodiversity hotspot.
Indian Spot-billed Duck
White-breasted Waterhen
Black-winged Stilt
Grey-headed Swamphen
Bronze-winged Jacana
River Tern
Painted Stork
Glossy Ibis
Little Egret
Red-wattled Lapwing
Grey Heron
Black-headed Ibis
Shikra
Black Kite
White-throated Kingfisher
Common Tailorbird
Brahminy Kite
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Black Drongo
Red-whiskered Bulbul
Summary of Walk
The bird walk at Vibhutipura Kere, Bengaluru, led by bird expert Manasvi, brought together enthusiastic participants for a rewarding morning of wetland birding. The walk began with a truly majestic moment as a flock of hundreds of cormorants flew straight towards the group, setting the tone for the day. With the wetland alive with activity, the group recorded 41 bird species, including notable sightings of Painted Stork, Eurasian Spoonbill, Spot-billed Pelican, and Black-crowned Night Heron. The sheer abundance of birds was the highlight, with over twenty Painted Storks, hundreds of Black-winged Stilts, and dozens of sandpipers spread across the lake.
One of the most memorable moments was spotting seven Black-crowned Night Herons, including two juveniles, offering participants a chance to observe age-related differences in plumage and behaviour. Adding a hands-on learning element, Manasvi shared her collection of feathers from species already seen during the walk, such as Black-headed Ibis, Black Kite, and Brahminy Kite. Through this, participants learned how feathers are adapted for flight, insulation, and even swimming. The walk beautifully blended large-scale bird spectacles with close-up learning, leaving everyone with a deeper appreciation of wetland ecosystems and the fascinating lives of birds.
Number of Participants
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