A group of Indian grey hornbills at Kaalikui village located in the Jambughoda-Ratanmahal forest corridor
Vadodara: It is a jaw-dropping sight that would thrill bird lovers in the state. At the crack of the dawn, about 80 to 100 Indian grey hornbills have been congregating on some trees in Kaalikui village located in the Jambughoda-Ratanmahal forest corridor for the last couple of weeks. These birds pluck fruits of a peepul tree, relish them for an hour and fly away.
Foresters say that it is for the first time in Gujarat that the Indian grey hornbills have been spotted in such big numbers at one spot. “These birds are usually seen in a group of six to eight in the state. Even in other states, I have seen a maximum and unusual congregation of 30 grey hornbills. But a gathering of 80 to 100 grey hornbills is a record in Gujarat,” said Uday Vora, former chief conservator of forests (CCF) (wildlife).