The Varsova bridge over Vasai Creek on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway has turned into a tourist attraction, thanks to the arrival of migratory seagulls. The sight of these winter visitors has led to vehicles stopping on the bridge, creating a concerning situation as many people wait there to feed the birds with snacks like namkeen, sev gathia, farsan and wafers. While visitors enjoy feeding the seagulls, experts warn that this practice harms them.

On Tuesday, this newspaper’s correspondent travelled along the Varsova bridge and was surprised to find the northbound stretch crowded with parked four-wheelers and trucks. Upon stopping to investigate, we discovered that most people had halted to take pictures of the creek and the migratory birds, while many were actively feeding them junk food.