With revived Surajpur wetland due to good monsoon this year, black-headed Ibis Asian birds have recorded an “unusually high” level of breeding. According to ecologists, the enormous rainfall this season has revived wetland habitat and marshland which further provides good nesting and breeding for diverse birdlife in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR).
Ecologist TK Roy said that during this monsoon, breeding season recorded unusually large breeding colony of more than 50 Black-headed Ibis in NCR Delhi. “They unusually preferred Date-Palm Grooves in Surajpur Wetland within mixed breeding colony of Black-crowned Night Heron, little Cormorant, little Egret and Asian Openbill at Surajpur Reserve Forest in Greater Noida instead of preferred good canopy of other tree grooves. This is first such large breeding colony of black-headed Ibis with mixed breeding colony of other species in Surajpur Reserve Forest,” said Roy. Black-headed Ibis is widespread white color wetland bird with black neck, head and remarkable stout down-curved long black bill to probe into marshes and soft mud for feeding.
“It is one among three species of Ibis available in Asia mainly in southeast and south Asia. It is largely resident in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri lanka, smaller population in Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar and winter migrant to Japan, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand,” said the Ecologist.
Importantly, with moderately rapid decline in its population, the bird is in Red listed (Near Threaten) category of threatened bird species by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) with global population estimation 15,000 to 30,000 individuals as per Birdlife International.
“Although birds are common in NCR Delhi region with scattered smaller number but breeding is rare and uncommon in NCR Delhi,” said Roy.
He added Streaked Weaver’s nesting recorded on the reeds along the wetland but abandoned nesting in Okhla Bird Sanctuary during last two years due to disturbance. However this year, the sanctuary also recorded nesting of Cinnamon Bittern, Yellow Bittern, Bronze-winged Jacana, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Indian Moorhen, Indian Spot-billed Duck, Purple Swamphen, White-breasted Waterhen, Cattle Egret.