Prayagraj: A team from the Uttar Pradesh forest department and researchers of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) have discovered a large nesting site of the Indian skimmer (Rynchops albicollis) — a favourite among Indian bird enthusiasts — at Palpur village in Chakka block of Prayagraj, along the banks of the Yamuna.
The survey, which led to the discovery of this impressive nesting site, was undertaken under the guidance of the divisional forest officer (DFO) of Prayagraj, Mahaveer Kaujalagi.
“Finding this large colony of Indian skimmer in an island along the river Yamuna is a milestone in the efforts to protect India’s rich biodiversity. The only breeding site till now was in the Chambal basin and, thereafter, it was spotted at two places along the Ganga at Phaphamau in Prayagraj. And, now, we have found yet another nesting site, that, too, where over 300 nests have been spotted,” Kaujalagi told reporters.
Earlier in February, a team of WII experts had spotted breeding site along the Gomti river in Barabanki’s Subeha village, some 75 km from Lucknow.
There is no evidence of Indian skimmers ever been found along the Gomti river, but for the first time in 2022, the group spotted 57 birds in Subeha and again in 2023.
Researchers will now study breeding behaviour of birds in greater detail.
The Indian skimmer, according to experts, is native to the Indian subcontinent. Its striking black-and-white plumage and unique feeding behaviour make it a favourite among bird enthusiasts.
Indian skimmers are specialized feeders that use their elongated lower mandibles to skim the surface of water bodies in search of small fish, Kaujalagi said.
It is a protected species under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972; however, despite this, the population is declining rapidly due to habitat loss and degradation.
The Indian skimmer belongs to the family Laridae and is listed as vulnerable in the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
The discovery of the mass nesting site of Indian skimmers at Prayagraj, which stretches for around 2 km along the banks of the Yamuna, is a significant achievement in wildlife conservation efforts.
This is the first time that such a large congregation of Indian skimmers has been observed at a single location.
The nesting site is estimated to be home to hundreds of Indian skimmers. The DFO of Prayagraj and WII’s team have been closely monitoring movements and behaviour of Indian skimmers in the region for several months.
Their persistence and hard work paid off when they discovered the nesting site.
“We have formed a dedicated team and have also roped in Ganga Praharis, who will not only keep a close eye on the nesting sites but will also make villagers around here aware of the importance of protecting these beautiful birds,” the DFO said.
The researchers will now be able to study the breeding behaviour of the birds in greater detail, as well as the ecological factors that contribute to their survival, the DFO said.
In 2017, the WII and the forest department discovered two new breeding sites of the species at the island in the middle of the Ganga at Phaphamau in Prayagraj.
–IANS