Bird Walk at Munekolala Lake, Bengaluru
- Bengaluru
- 6 December, 2025
- Kayala Ashok
About Munekolala Lake
Munnekolala Lake in Marathahalli spans roughly 15–16 acres and forms a small but once-vibrant wetland nestled inside a fast-growing urban neighbourhood. Its open water, patches of reeds, and remnant feeder channels historically created a welcoming stopover for herons, egrets, cormorants, moorhens, and even winter visitors like pelicans. For nearby residents, the lake served as both a cooling green pocket and a quiet birdwatching haven, proof that even compact city wetlands can pulse with surprising life when their hydrology and vegetation remain intact.
Over the years, however, Munnekolala Lake has been strained by sewage inflow, siltation, shrinking catchment, and haphazard development. These pressures have dulled its ecological richness and reduced bird activity. Yet the lake still holds conservation value: with proper sewage diversion, periodic desilting, wetland-friendly planting, and a protected buffer zone, it could once again support diverse waterbirds and become a community-driven urban biodiversity space. For a city losing wetlands at an unsettling pace, restoring Munnekolala isn’t just about one lake — it’s about safeguarding Bengaluru’s larger urban ecological web.
Partnered with
Bird walk Location
Bird Guide: Kayla Ashok Kumar
A software Engineer by profession and passionate to do the bird count, and observe bird behavior and guiding the communities through NGO's for conservation of birds and their role in biodiversity and also approach schools adjacents to forest areas and train about conservation of fauna.
Common birds of Munekolala Lake
Munnekolala Lake has hosted an impressive 108 bird species, reflecting its importance as a small but lively urban wetland. Regular sightings include waterbirds like Spot-billed Ducks, Grey Herons, Pond Herons, Spot-billed Pelicans, Little Egrets, and Night Herons, all drawn to the lake’s shallow edges and feeding grounds. Along the tree-lined bunds, familiar residents such as the Red-whiskered Bulbul, Pale-billed Flowerpecker, White-cheeked Barbet, and the rhythmic Coppersmith Barbet add colour and sound to the landscape, while the ever-present White-throated Kingfisher flashes electric blue over the water. Together, these species paint Munnekolala as a compact yet rich urban birding hotspot.
Indian Spot-billed Duck
Grey Heron
Indian Pond Heron
Eastern Cattle Egret
Asian Green Bee-eater
Ashy Prinia
Coppersmith Barbet
Black Drongo
Spot-billed Pelican
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Little Egret
Eurasian Coot
White-breasted Waterhen
Eurasian Moorhen
White-throated Kingfisher
Brahminy Kite
Red-whiskered Bulbul
Oriental Darter
Red-wattled Lapwing
Asian Koel
Summary of Walk
The Munekolala Lake bird walk in Bengaluru, led by expert birder Kayala Ashok, brought together 7 enthusiastic participants for a refreshing morning of exploration. The group recorded an impressive 35 bird species, including favourites like the Common Sandpiper, Pale-billed Flowerpecker, Gray Wagtail, Painted Stork, and the stunning Indian Golden Oriole. One of the most delightful moments of the walk was spotting a Brahminy Kite singing, a behaviour rarely observed so closely, making it the highlight of the outing.
Throughout the walk, participants enjoyed fascinating bird stories and learned about unique behaviours, enriching their understanding of local avifauna. Ashok also guided the group on how to identify birds, recognise key field marks, and correctly use binoculars—skills that boosted the confidence of many first-time birders. It was a morning filled with learning, connection, and the joy of discovering Bengaluru’s vibrant birdlife.
Number of Participants
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