How Birdwatching Transformed Pune's Vetal Tekdi from Ignored Hill to Protected Ecosystem
Urban landscapes frequently undergo silent transformations where natural spaces gradually disappear. A walking trail becomes a paved road, a grove of trees is replaced by construction sites, and over time, familiar landscapes simply fade from memory. In rapidly expanding cities like Pune, such changes are often accepted as inevitable progress. However, sometimes a place survives because people begin to see it through a different lens. This is precisely what happened with Vetal Tekdi, Pune's highest hill.
The Unusual Public Movement That Saved a Hill
The story of Vetal Tekdi's preservation is remarkable because it didn't involve aggressive protests or political morchas. Instead, it unfolded through binoculars, bird calls, and the persistent efforts of nature enthusiasts. At the center of this transformation is Pune-based birder Ranjeet Rane, a public policy professional who chose to champion nature conservation through community engagement.
Rane's connection with Vetal Tekdi deepened after he returned to Pune from the Delhi-NCR region. Like many Punekars, he felt a strong attachment to the city's hills, which form an integral part of its identity. Vetal Tekdi had always been present—sometimes ignored, occasionally misused, but consistently part of the urban fabric.
The turning point came when Rane noticed construction barricades blocking access to the hill. Concerned, he reached out through social media platforms like X and connected with the Vetal Tekdi Bachav Kruti Samiti (VTBKS), a volunteer group dedicated to the hill's conservation. What he learned was alarming: three major infrastructure projects threatened to destroy the rich biodiversity of this hill complex.
Seeing the Hill Through a Birder's Eyes
Instead of accepting the situation, Rane decided to understand Vetal Tekdi more deeply. As an experienced birdwatcher, he began exploring the landscape systematically—observing bird behaviors, listening to calls, and documenting wildlife movements. What he discovered was extraordinary.
"The old hill was full of birds, not at all your run-of-the-mill hill," Rane noted. "The hill had character."
His observations revealed that Vetal Tekdi wasn't merely open land but a functioning ecosystem. Raptors circled above ridges, smaller birds moved through scrub forests and grasslands, and migratory species appeared during winter months. This ecological richness prompted Rane to share his discoveries with others.
The Growth of a Quiet Conservation Movement
Rane began organizing informal birding walks, initially attracting just two or three participants on weekend mornings. He spread the word through social media platforms like @IndiAves on X, WhatsApp groups, and Facebook communities. The concept was simple: gather people, walk the hill slowly, and observe birds together.
As participation grew, something remarkable happened. Residents who had previously visited the hill only for exercise began noticing wildlife they had overlooked. Students, photographers, families, and curious locals joined the walks, discovering birds they never knew existed in their city.
Over time, birdwatchers documented more than 160 bird species in the broader hill complex—an impressive number for an urban landscape. Notably, the European honey buzzard sighted here represents the only recorded instance of this species in Maharashtra. This data helped establish Vetal Tekdi as a significant birding site in Pune.
From Small Gatherings to Organized Community Efforts
What began as solitary birdwatching evolved into a structured community initiative. Bird walks that once attracted two or three participants now regularly host up to 50 people from diverse age groups. To manage this growth, a dedicated team of approximately 10 volunteers now guides participants and maintains trails.
The annual Great Backyard Bird Count—a global citizen science initiative organized by institutions like the Cornell Lab of Ornithology—further highlighted Vetal Tekdi's importance. During the 2026 count, Pune recorded 248 bird species citywide, with Vetal Tekdi contributing 132 species including the Eurasian hobby, Indian thick-knee, white-eyed buzzard, and rock bush-quail.
A Changed Perception That Ensures Preservation
The most significant outcome of this movement isn't just the documented biodiversity but how people now perceive Vetal Tekdi. Thanks to the quiet persistence of birdwatchers and community organizers like Ranjeet Rane, the hill is no longer viewed as disposable land but as an essential ecosystem that must be preserved for future generations.
This transformation demonstrates that conservation doesn't always require confrontation. Sometimes, it simply requires helping people see familiar landscapes with new eyes—through binoculars focused on winged inhabitants who share our urban spaces.
