Migratory Birds of India PDF

THE HINDU PRELIMS SPECIFIC ANALYSIS 12th
NOVEMBER 2019
SAMBHAR LAKE pg 5
• Context: More than 1,500 migratory birds have died
mysteriously near the Sambhar Lake in Rajasthan.
Analysis
Sambhar Lake
• It is the largest inland saline lake in the country and
the largest Ramsar site in Rajasthan.
• It represents a depression of the Aravalli Range.
• An endangered species.
• Despite being a Ramsar site under the Ramsar
• While it nests in western Siberia throughout the year,
Convention on Wetlands, Sambhar has not been
the cranes undergo a 4,000 miles journey to India
declared a wetland under the Wildlife Protection Act,
every winter to escape the deathly cold and lack of
1978.
food in the Siberian regions.
• The wetland of Ramsar status is under threat of water
• The cranes can be spotted mainly at two places: the
scarcity, desertification, disappearing biodiversity,
Kaladeo Ghana National Park or the Bharatpur
increasing salt production, deteriorating quality of salt
National Park, which has since been declared a
and overall eco-system.
world heritage site because the Siberian Crane
• The lake, according to the Central Ground Water
traverses nearly half of the globe to reach it.
Board (CGWB), comes under the category of
• However, in the recent past, things have drastically
‘overexploited/critical’.
changed. The once regular visitors have started
• Indiscriminate groundwater extraction is the single
making sporadic appearances in the past decade or
largest threat to Sambhar which has resulted in
so – sometimes, disappearing for very long spells.
progressive waterfowl habitat degradation.
• Overpopulation, extreme weather changes and
• Lesser Flamingos, a migratory endangered species
hunting are major contributors to this phenomenon.
of birds, visit the Sambhar Lake every year from June
II. Greater Flamingo
to November.
Migratory Birds of India
• Plenty of birds seek refuge from either the cold in the
North or the heat in the west and the south, and
the climate of India provides the perfect escape from
both.
The Winter Birds
I. Siberian Cranes
• While the Flamingos of Sewri might be renowned all

over Bombay, they’re actually Lesser Flamingos,
found in India and migrate within the country itself.
• Flocks of Greater Flamingos, however, start
descending into Flamingo City to an island called
Anda Bet, in the Greater Rann of Kutch which is the
1 For Daily Updates Join Telegram Channel: Prelims Specific Notes for IAS
the only nesting ground of the greater and lesser • A huge population of these birds, which spends its
flamingos in the Indian sub-continent, if not in all winters in the Indian Subcontinent makes a taxing
of south Asia. journey over the Himalayas, often taking a break in
• However, since their last migration in 2011, the wetlands just south of the Himalaya before continuing
flamingos have disappeared and have not made any further south to India.
more arrivals. • The birds, which reside in marshy wetlands in the
• Although they are known to breed once every three north, have seen a tremendous rise in its
years, their sudden disappearance is a cause of population in the past four decades, numbering over
concern, experts believe. four million today.
III. Ruff V. Rosy Pelican
• The Ruffs are birds of the Arctic Tundra region. • They Journey from Europe To North India.
• Although they spend the summer months breeding • Pelicans are known to possess gigantic beaks – yet,
and rearing chicks, the winters pose a huge problem the Rosy Pelican is known for its gigantic wingspan
altogether as hell freezes over. too, which stretches close to 12 feet in length.
• One of their preferred destinations is India, where • Like other winter migratory birds, the Rosy Pelican
they can find food in abundance for the growth of their migrates to the north of India, settling down in
young ones. shallow, fresh water lakes with plenty of fish.
• However, once the breeding season comes around VI. Gadwall
again they move back to the Tundra to repeat the
cycle all over again.
IV. Northern Shoveler
• They Journey from Europe & North America to

Bhopal, India.
• Gadwall generally prefers freshwater reedy marshes,
• These are the residents of Europe and Northern Asia. jheels and other such low water bodies.
• Image source: cyclingtheworldforbirds.blogspot.com
VII. Black-tailed Godwit
• They Journey from Europe & Alaska to Rajasthan.

• The black-tailed godwits spend their summers in • An excellent mimic, the bluebird is known to answer
Iceland or Russia – where they breed, eat and raise calls of other birds, while having a melodious
their young. originality in its own voice.
VIII. Spotted Redshank B. The Summer Soarers
I. Asian Koel
• They Journey from Scandinavia to Haryana.

• The tiny Spotted Redshank needs a moderate • “Koel jaisa meetha sur” is a term we grew up hearing.
temperature and tropical conditions, as well as wet However, what few people know is that the Asian Koel
coniferous forests for its nests. Therefore, the period is not indigenous to India – it migrates from Singapore
after monsoons in India is perfect for their survival. every year.
• The females the eggs and leave India to return to • With its mesmerising voice and perpetually bloodshot
Scandinavia while the young ones hatch in India itself eyes, the bird is a brood parasite – it lays its eggs in
and are taken care of by the males. After the birds the nests of other birds.
grow enough, they too return to Europe. • In India, the victim is the poor crow, whose nests the
IX. Bluethroat Koel invades. The reason for the Koel’s migration,
believe it or not, is unique too.
• The summers in Singapore and its surrounding
tropical areas is “too hot” for the Koel and so it
migrates to India to get a “cool” climate as well as
considerable food! The migratory brood parasite,
which leaves India during the winters, is also the state
bird of Pondicherry.
II. Black-crowned Night Heron
• The Journey from Argentina, Chile & China to the • The Journey: From Africa and parts of Europe to
Bengal region of India. peninsular India.
III. Eurasian Golden Oriole • Although its name might suggest otherwise, but the
Bee Eater’s favourite food is the Indian dragonfly.
• They Journey from Europe and Africa to India.

• Oriole is known for its striking features and distinct cry
– something, which people say, cannot be forgotten
once heard.
IV. Comb Duck
• The Journey: From Madagascar & South Asia to

Haryana.
V. Blue-cheeked Bee Eater

Migratory Birds of India PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Migratory Birds of India PDF

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Read this document in other languages

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Migratory Birds of India PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

THE HINDU PRELIMS SPECIFIC ANALYSIS 12th

• While the Flamingos of Sewri might be renowned all

• They Journey from Europe & North America to

• They Journey from Europe & Alaska to Rajasthan.

• They Journey from Scandinavia to Haryana.

• They Journey from Europe and Africa to India.

• The Journey: From Madagascar & South Asia to

You might also like