From Call to Camera: A Hidden Bird Breaks Its Silence in Mandangad

It began with a strange sound in the dark.

We were deep in the monsoon-soaked forests of Mandangad block in Ratnagiri district—wandering through sacred groves and private woodlands, looking for the vibrant life that awakens with the monsoon. The air was heavy with moisture, the forest floor slippery, and a soft mist wrapped around the trees. As daylight faded into night, a series of strange, rhythmic calls began to echo from the dense undergrowth.

One call, in particular, caught my attention. It was unfamiliar— yet strangely captivating.

At first, I thought it might be a frog—possibly the Marbled Balloon Frog (Uperodon mormorata), known for its loud, unique call during the monsoon. But something about the sound didn’t feel right. The pattern, the pitch—it sparked a different kind of curiosity.

To be sure, I opened the Merlin Bird ID app. With just a tap, it recorded and analysed the call.

And then, the name appeared on the screen:

"Slaty-legged Crake – Rallina eurizonoides."

I froze, staring at the screen in disbelief.

In nearly a decade of exploring these forests, observing birds, reptiles, frogs, and the quiet magic of the wild—I had never come across this bird. Not once. And as far as I knew, no one else had either. A quick check on eBird, the global database for bird sightings, confirmed it: there were no records of the Slaty-legged Crake anywhere in or around Mandangad.

The mystery was too tempting to walk away from.

With torches dimmed and ears tuned in, we moved slowly through the darkness, following the sound deeper into the forest like a trail of breadcrumbs. Every crack of a twig beneath our feet felt louder than it should. We were in snake territory, and monsoon nights are their time to hunt. Eyes scanned the branches, the ground, and everything in between—alert to both bird and serpent.

Minutes stretched into nearly an hour. The call grew louder, more distinct.

And then—movement of truth.

We caught a glimpse of something shifting among thick leaves. As we lifted our torches gently, the light revealed a reddish-brown bird perched in the canopy.

There it was.

Picture Credit: Akshay Gawade

The Slaty-legged Crake, calmly watching us from above, as if curious about us too.

For a few heartbeats, time stood still. The rain dripped around us, the leaves shimmered, and in that quiet moment, the bird and I simply looked at each other—two strangers sharing the same space in the wild.

Blending into the surrounding vegetation, I slowly lifted my camera, careful not to disturb the bird, I focused. Within minutes, I had taken clear photos and videos—the first-ever documentation of this elusive bird in Mandangad.

Picture Credit: Akshay Gawade

Picture Credit: Akshay Gawade

This moment was more than just a sighting. It was a powerful reminder that even the most familiar forests still hold secrets. And sometimes, if you walk quietly enough, and listen closely, the forest may reveal them.

So, what else might be hiding in these long-overlooked patches of green?What other voices are waiting to be heard?

In the heart of the forest, as the rain dripped from every leaf and the last light faded behind the hills, we didn’t just spot a bird—we discovered a new story whispered by the wild.

--- Akshay