indian skimmers are passing through hardest time of their life.they may extinct in a few years ! hardly a few hundreds are remaining at a few places of our continents around fiffty are here at narora being conserved by our team but certainly needs attention of others.
Skimmers are a natural wonder of grace, speed, and agility. Catching small fish in their beaks mid-flight has earned these acrobats their descriptive name. Patient fishermen are often rewarded with the sight of these swift creatures swooping down and "skimming" the water with open beak as they scoop live fish from the water's surface.
There are three main types of skimmers. The first is the Black Skimmer of North and South America. This bird has an orange beak with a black tip and almost appears to be wearing a black overcoat on top of a white downy body. The African Skimmer looks much the same but with a yellow tip on an orange beak. The Indian Skimmer looks most like the African Skimmer but with a white collar throughout most of the year. The Indian Skimmer has the smallest population with only about 10,000 birds still in existence.
No matter where you find a skimmer, it always stays near the water's edge.
Features
The most obvious feature of this unique bird is a beak that gives skimmers the ability to catch fish in such an unusual way. The skimmer hunts by touch and not by sight. It can actually "feel out" food as it glides with extended lower mandible.
In order to see better, the skimmer has pupils designed to adjust to the elements. Their eyes are built vertical with pupils that will shrink into tiny slits in the presence of harsh light. This protects the eyes from damage due to the water's glare or reflections on sandy beaches.
Reproduction
A skimmer will lay 3 to 5 eggs at a time in a range of colors from off-white to gray-blue. They breed in colonies for safety and nest in the warmth of sandy beaches. Parents work together to raise their young as a team effort. In just over three weeks the eggs will finally hatch. This is when the real work begins. The young must be fed by mouth until their own beaks fully form to accommodate whole fish. This won't happen until they're nearly full-grown.
It is no wonder that these beautiful birds are a favorite subject for nature photographers. Many a professional has profited from a single well-time snapshot of a Skimmer catching a tasty morsel from the water. With recent conservation efforts, it is likely that we will continue to enjoy the spectacle of their acrobatics for years to come.
There are three main types of skimmers. The first is the Black Skimmer of North and South America. This bird has an orange beak with a black tip and almost appears to be wearing a black overcoat on top of a white downy body. The African Skimmer looks much the same but with a yellow tip on an orange beak. The Indian Skimmer looks most like the African Skimmer but with a white collar throughout most of the year. The Indian Skimmer has the smallest population with only about 10,000 birds still in existence.
No matter where you find a skimmer, it always stays near the water's edge.
The most obvious feature of this unique bird is a beak that gives skimmers the ability to catch fish in such an unusual way. The skimmer hunts by touch and not by sight. It can actually "feel out" food as it glides with extended lower mandible.
In order to see better, the skimmer has pupils designed to adjust to the elements. Their eyes are built vertical with pupils that will shrink into tiny slits in the presence of harsh light. This protects the eyes from damage due to the water's glare or reflections on sandy beaches.
A skimmer will lay 3 to 5 eggs at a time in a range of colors from off-white to gray-blue. They breed in colonies for safety and nest in the warmth of sandy beaches. Parents work together to raise their young as a team effort. In just over three weeks the eggs will finally hatch. This is when the real work begins. The young must be fed by mouth until their own beaks fully form to accommodate whole fish. This won't happen until they're nearly full-grown.
It is no wonder that these beautiful birds are a favorite subject for nature photographers. Many a professional has profited from a single well-time snapshot of a Skimmer catching a tasty morsel from the water. With recent conservation efforts, it is likely that we will continue to enjoy the spectacle of their acrobatics for years to come.
The population of Indian Skimmer Rynchops albicollis is confined to the large rivers of Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Indochina (Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam). It is a rare visitor in Nepal, and was previously recorded from China (BirdLife International 2001). Small numbers are present in Pakistan, only three recent localities are known in Myanmar, and the species is, in effect, extinct in the Mekong delta (BirdLife International 2001, J.W. Duckworth in litt. 2003). India is now clearly the most important country in the world for the conservation of the species. The Indian Skimmer is currently considered Vulnerable because it has a small population (estimated to number less than 10,000 individuals) which is declining by >30% in 10 years (BirdLife International 2004). It is one of the least studied birds in India, with much of the information available on its ecology and habits being anecdotal and descriptive (Ali and Ripley 1969, BirdLife International 2001).
The stretch of the River Ganges between Brijghat and Narora has been declared as RAMSAR site under the criteria 2,4,5,6 & 7 of RAMSAR conservation in the year 2005. The previous survey results show that particular stretch is having Indian skimmer population but very less effort were made towards the Indian Skimmer population study during those surveys. Nature exploration Group Narora conducted a survey on Indian Skimmer breeding just outside the RAMSAR site at Narora during the year 2007 (MISTNET July 2007 – A.I.Siddiqui, Jitendra Pandey, Raja Mandal). No other effort for conservation of Indian Skimmer was made in this stretch. The main goal of the project is to assess the population status of Indian Skimmer and its distribution along with the breeding sites in and around of the RAMSAR stretch. A spatial effort will be made to find out the threats and disturbances to the Indian Skimmer.
The project objectives: 1. To obtain information on distribution, abundance and density of Indian Skimmer (RA) in the stretch of the River Ganges between Brijghat and Narora Barrage (RAMSAR Site). 2. To identify the breeding grounds of Indian Skimmer in the above stretch. 3. To collect information on breeding behavior of Indian skimmer. 4. To make suggestion for appropriate protected areas and management options for Indian skimmer.
A preliminary vessel based survey will be made from Bijnor to Kachla on the river Ganges at the rate of 20 Km / hr in the day time for the abundance of the Indian skimmer in and around of the Brijghat – Narora RAMSAR Site. In this survey 55 km upstream of brijghat and 50 Km downstream of the Narora Barrage has been included in the main study area to make comparison of the abundance of IS in and outside of the Brijghat – Narora RAMSAR Site. The team members (observers & data recorders) were already experienced in water bird survey methods in the River Ganges, as they were regularly participating in NEG’s periodical water bird surveys. K.S.Gopisunder’s (2002) survey method in Chambal river (NCS) will be followed during the census. Boat speed will be maintained at 15-20 km/ hr in a downstream direction for best view of the water birds. Observations will be made with Binoculars. Locations will be marked by GPS. Special effort will be made in mid river islands. After preliminary survey all the data will be analyzed and location will be finalized for focused study and conservation.
The outcomes of the study will be provided first to the funding agency and with the permission of the agency will be provided to other like minded NGO’s Government officials, Universities and policy makers.
Thanks For Good Posting If you have any queries or are you looking for Oil Skimmers then in that case, it is advisable to get connected with the expert professionals at Clear Ion Expert Pvt.Ltd.
Skimmers are a natural wonder of grace, speed, and agility. Catching small fish in their beaks mid-flight has earned these acrobats their descriptive name. Patient fishermen are often rewarded with the sight of these swift creatures swooping down and "skimming" the water with open beak as they scoop live fish from the water's surface.
ReplyDeleteThere are three main types of skimmers. The first is the Black Skimmer of North and South America. This bird has an orange beak with a black tip and almost appears to be wearing a black overcoat on top of a white downy body. The African Skimmer looks much the same but with a yellow tip on an orange beak. The Indian Skimmer looks most like the African Skimmer but with a white collar throughout most of the year. The Indian Skimmer has the smallest population with only about 10,000 birds still in existence.
ReplyDeleteNo matter where you find a skimmer, it always stays near the water's edge.
Features
The most obvious feature of this unique bird is a beak that gives skimmers the ability to catch fish in such an unusual way. The skimmer hunts by touch and not by sight. It can actually "feel out" food as it glides with extended lower mandible.
In order to see better, the skimmer has pupils designed to adjust to the elements. Their eyes are built vertical with pupils that will shrink into tiny slits in the presence of harsh light. This protects the eyes from damage due to the water's glare or reflections on sandy beaches.
Reproduction
A skimmer will lay 3 to 5 eggs at a time in a range of colors from off-white to gray-blue. They breed in colonies for safety and nest in the warmth of sandy beaches. Parents work together to raise their young as a team effort. In just over three weeks the eggs will finally hatch. This is when the real work begins. The young must be fed by mouth until their own beaks fully form to accommodate whole fish. This won't happen until they're nearly full-grown.
It is no wonder that these beautiful birds are a favorite subject for nature photographers. Many a professional has profited from a single well-time snapshot of a Skimmer catching a tasty morsel from the water. With recent conservation efforts, it is likely that we will continue to enjoy the spectacle of their acrobatics for years to come.
There are three main types of skimmers. The first is the Black Skimmer of North and South America. This bird has an orange beak with a black tip and almost appears to be wearing a black overcoat on top of a white downy body. The African Skimmer looks much the same but with a yellow tip on an orange beak. The Indian Skimmer looks most like the African Skimmer but with a white collar throughout most of the year. The Indian Skimmer has the smallest population with only about 10,000 birds still in existence.
ReplyDeleteNo matter where you find a skimmer, it always stays near the water's edge.
Features
ReplyDeleteThe most obvious feature of this unique bird is a beak that gives skimmers the ability to catch fish in such an unusual way. The skimmer hunts by touch and not by sight. It can actually "feel out" food as it glides with extended lower mandible.
In order to see better, the skimmer has pupils designed to adjust to the elements. Their eyes are built vertical with pupils that will shrink into tiny slits in the presence of harsh light. This protects the eyes from damage due to the water's glare or reflections on sandy beaches.
Reproduction
ReplyDeleteA skimmer will lay 3 to 5 eggs at a time in a range of colors from off-white to gray-blue. They breed in colonies for safety and nest in the warmth of sandy beaches. Parents work together to raise their young as a team effort. In just over three weeks the eggs will finally hatch. This is when the real work begins. The young must be fed by mouth until their own beaks fully form to accommodate whole fish. This won't happen until they're nearly full-grown.
It is no wonder that these beautiful birds are a favorite subject for nature photographers. Many a professional has profited from a single well-time snapshot of a Skimmer catching a tasty morsel from the water. With recent conservation efforts, it is likely that we will continue to enjoy the spectacle of their acrobatics for years to come.
The population of Indian Skimmer Rynchops albicollis is confined to the large rivers of Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Indochina (Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam). It is a rare visitor in Nepal, and was previously recorded from China (BirdLife International 2001). Small numbers are present in Pakistan, only three recent localities are known in Myanmar, and the species is, in effect, extinct in the Mekong delta (BirdLife International 2001, J.W. Duckworth in litt. 2003). India is now clearly the most important country in the world for the conservation of the species. The Indian Skimmer is currently considered Vulnerable because it has a small population (estimated to number less than 10,000 individuals) which is declining by >30% in 10 years (BirdLife International 2004). It is one of the least studied birds in India, with much of the information available on its ecology and habits being anecdotal and descriptive (Ali and Ripley 1969, BirdLife International 2001).
ReplyDeleteThe stretch of the River Ganges between Brijghat and Narora has been declared as RAMSAR site under the criteria 2,4,5,6 & 7 of RAMSAR conservation in the year 2005. The previous survey results show that particular stretch is having Indian skimmer population but very less effort were made towards the Indian Skimmer population study during those surveys. Nature exploration Group Narora conducted a survey on Indian Skimmer breeding just outside the RAMSAR site at Narora during the year 2007 (MISTNET July 2007 – A.I.Siddiqui, Jitendra Pandey, Raja Mandal). No other effort for conservation of Indian Skimmer was made in this stretch.
ReplyDeleteThe main goal of the project is to assess the population status of Indian Skimmer and its distribution along with the breeding sites in and around of the RAMSAR stretch. A spatial effort will be made to find out the threats and disturbances to the Indian Skimmer.
The project objectives:
ReplyDelete1. To obtain information on distribution, abundance and density of Indian Skimmer (RA) in the stretch of the River Ganges between Brijghat and Narora Barrage (RAMSAR Site).
2. To identify the breeding grounds of Indian Skimmer in the above stretch.
3. To collect information on breeding behavior of Indian skimmer.
4. To make suggestion for appropriate protected areas and management options for Indian skimmer.
Methodology
ReplyDeleteA preliminary vessel based survey will be made from Bijnor to Kachla on the river Ganges at the rate of 20 Km / hr in the day time for the abundance of the Indian skimmer in and around of the Brijghat – Narora RAMSAR Site. In this survey 55 km upstream of brijghat and 50 Km downstream of the Narora Barrage has been included in the main study area to make comparison of the abundance of IS in and outside of the Brijghat – Narora RAMSAR Site. The team members (observers & data recorders) were already experienced in water bird survey methods in the River Ganges, as they were regularly participating in NEG’s periodical water bird surveys.
K.S.Gopisunder’s (2002) survey method in Chambal river (NCS) will be followed during the census. Boat speed will be maintained at 15-20 km/ hr in a downstream direction for best view of the water birds. Observations will be made with Binoculars. Locations will be marked by GPS. Special effort will be made in mid river islands.
After preliminary survey all the data will be analyzed and location will be finalized for focused study and conservation.
Conclusion
ReplyDeleteThe outcomes of the study will be provided first to the funding agency and with the permission of the agency will be provided to other like minded NGO’s Government officials, Universities and policy makers.
wonderful I hope together we can SAVE this species which is flag-shipping the entire Island nesting birds of our national river Ganges.
ReplyDeleteyour efforts are praise worthy in this context.
ReplyDeleteThanks For Good Posting If you have any queries or are you looking for Oil Skimmers then in that case, it is advisable to get connected with the expert professionals at Clear Ion Expert Pvt.Ltd.
ReplyDelete