PANAJI: The rare appearance of this visitor on the mainland wetlands will pass as a routine.
For this forest official, the length of the tail-to-wing ratio triggers curiosity which helps add to the Pratincole to collect the checklist of cave bird species.
With these spots, new records have taken the total number of birds documented in the country to 483.
More than a month and half back, the twins of 11-year-old Gautam and Sidharth have swelled the checklist, seeing other rare visitors – old -Billed Dowither on the wetlands of Rai -Loutolym nearby when coming out with their mother, Priya.
“I noticed this single bird resting, not moving on the edge of the mud in the midst of the mainstades of the Curorim which was harvested on December 13,” said Mangirish Dharwadkar, who worked with the wildlife division, (south) said Margao.
Seen initially triggered some confusion if it was Pratincole Oriental or collared Pratincole because both of them covered the resemblance to each other.
Small Pratincole in a 100 or more herd is usually seen but Pratincole Oriental and the resurrection is rare.
“Oriental looks and photographed in 2016 but the collared pratincole has been seen for the first time.
The three have the same size but the small Pratincole has plain gray and easily recognizable.
But the other two have some similarities and birders are confused,” said Justino Rebello, said A senior birdder.
Dharwadkar accompanied by other Birders, his wife, Rupali Pandit, Assistant Professor of Zoology at the Quepem College and Rebello, continued to click on photographs of rare birds aware that morphological studies would help the identification process.
Nostril-shaped gaps in the form of eggs – also a long-tail-wing ratio compared to shorter tails than oriental and very branched tails as seen in the flight, convincing forest officials about the new record discovery.
Rebello also posted images on social media which only attracted mixed reactions, although very little reacted and most answered properly.
Dharwadkar’s excitement grew after international experts support his view.
“To avoid confusion about the overlapping features between the two species, I have contacted the Insippp team, the author of the book about Indian birds and Gerald Driessens, a Belgian expert about Pratincoles,” said Dharwadkar.
With the same general checklist, it is less visible and rare, new sightings must have become rare.
Two rare Pratincol has been seen in other parts of India, but are not known as ordinary winter visitors.
Wetlands along the Zuari river form a part of the bird corridor that needs to be protected, said Birders.
“Maina-curorim and Raia Wetlands are rich in avifaunal biodiversity.
In 2013, Pelican which was billed, Eurasia Bittern in December 2020 was seen in Savonem, Udo, Raia and Pratincole in the Curorim in December 2021 – all rare,” said Dharwadkar.
Traditional agriculture practiced by locals has attracted praise from others.
“These wetlands still attract migratory birds.
Credit is given to the local community that survives the tradition of increasing two plants,” said Philip Fernandes, said a birder.
J Santan Rodrigues, Chairman of the Biodiversity Management Committee Curorim agreed with him.
“Agricultural activities throughout the year help maintain net local ecology from weed growth that are good for birds and other diversity,” he said.