A number of bird species live near a source of water. Those birds that live in freshwater such as flowing rivers, lakes, ponds, wetlands, etc. are covered under waterbirds. Evolution has given them specific features that help them in their daily chores. Some of these birds can be more terrestrial whereas some might be more aquatic depending upon their environment.
Water birds have some common features as mentioned below:
- Webbed feet allow them to swim easily and also walk without difficulty
- Bigger and wider bills/beaks to catch fishes or aquatic plants
- Ability to dive inside the water and hunt for prey
- Waterproof feathers that do not let water droplets to settle on the surface
- Species-wise adaptations to improve their efficiency and increase chances of hunting
Ducks, swans, waders, grebes, dippers, storks, egrets, cranes, bitterns, etc. have been covered under this category.
India has a rich biodiversity of water birds and this increases manifolds during winters when birds from all over the world come to some of the most preferred wetlands in India such as Keoladeo Ghana National Park, Chillika Lake, Nalsarovar, etc. November to February is the best season to get a chance to see these birds and study their behaviour and habitat.
From Nature Storytellers
Some of us are the biggest lovers of these waterbirds and wait throughout the year for winters which is the time for their arrival. Basking in the sun and shooting these beautiful big birds from a distance is what we crave for always. However, a lot of these birds are not able to complete their yearly migration because they are hunted down illegally on the way. A ground-level awareness program is what can help in reduction of such activities in future.
We aim to promote such individuals in becoming their protectors instead of hunters by providing them with an opportunity to become bird guides. A number of NGOs and other organisations are already doing it and we aim to partner with them by providing our platform and share their success stories with the world.