Recently, the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) has launched a new conservation project under the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) at Dehradun to protect Indian Skimmer in the Ganga Basin.
About Indian Skimmer:
It is one of the three species that belong to the skimmer genus Rynchops in the family Laridae.
It gets its name from the way it feeds, flying low over the water surface and ‘skimming’for fish.
Habitat: It primarily found on larger, sandy, lowland rivers, around lakes and adjacent marshes, and, in the non-breeding season, in estuaries and coasts.
Distribution: It is native to South Asia and mainly found in India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, with some populations extending to Nepal and Myanmar.
In India, one of the key areas for spotting Indian Skimmers is the Chambal River.
Features of Indian Skimmer:
It has a striking appearance. Its upper body is black, while its underbelly is white.
The most eye-catching feature is its beak, which is orange with a lower mandible that is much longer than the upper one.
This special beak helps the bird skim across the surface of the water to catch small fish and aquatic creatures.
The bird’s wings are long and angular, designed for fast, precise flight.
Conservation status: IUCN: Endangered.
Threats: Loss of river habitats, unplanned water release from dams, sand mining, threats from predators.
Dear Student,
You have still not entered your mailing address. Please enter the address where all the study materials will be sent to you. (If applicable).
