To the delight of nature- lovers, a record number of nearly 320 Indian Skimmers (Rynchops albicollis), which are endangered, have been spotted on the Bhairavapalem mudflat which spreads along the eco-sensitive zone of the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, on the Kakinada coast in Andhra Pradesh.
A six-member team led by Kakinada District Forest Officer (DFO) S. Bharani and ornithologist K. Mrutyunjaya Rao, on Sunday, enumerated the birds as part of the ‘National Indian Skimmer Count-2023’ being done by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS).
The Indian Skimmer migrate from the river basins of the Chambal and Mahanadi river basins to the Kakinada coast for annual sojourn for feeding in the winter.
Research scientist D. Mahesh Babu, who participated in the enumeration exercise, said: “We have sighted nearly 320 Indian Skimmers on the Bhairavapalem mudflat as part of the BNHS Indian Skimmer Count done on Sunday. At least five of the birds that are sighted here were tagged by the BNHS at Mahandi region in Odisha.”
“The flock of Indian Skimmers were found to be active along the eco-sensitive zone of the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary on Sunday. This year, the Indian Skimmers have set their annual sojourn on October 15,” observed Mr. Mahesh Babu. In recent years, the flock arrived at the Godavari estuary between November-end and early December.
Changes in habitat
However, a noteworthy development observed in the bird’s migration pattern is that the Indian Skimmer has been changing its habitat here on the Kakinada coast, reportedly due to disturbances caused to its existing habitat.
Until last year, the endangered birds were found to be feeding in and around the Kumbabhishekam area. However, this year, owing to disturbances there, the birds have changed their habitat to the Bhairavapalem mudflat.
The details of the sighting of the Indian Skimmer would be shared with the BNHS for the conservation of the endangered species, said the Mr. Mahesh Babu
