Sindh

Rare bird’s spotting thrills wildlife conservator

Oriental darter had become a rarity due to unfavourable weather conditions

Aftab Khan December 21, 2023

An oriental darter perches on a tree on the bank of Langh Lake in Qambar Shahdadkot district. The rare bird was seen after 29 years in the province, wildlife officials said. Photo: express

KARACHI:

A rare bird has been spotted for the first time after 29 years at a water reservoir in rural Sindh, according to a wildlife conservator. "The bird, oriental darter, is also known as "snake bird" because of its long snake-like neck," Javed Mehr, a conservator at the Sindh Wildlife Department, told The Express Tribune. "It survives on small fish, frogs, small water snakes, and other insects."

While sharing further details, he said oriental darter, with their spear-like beaks, is an excellent diver. The species became a rarity due to unfavourable weather conditions in Sindh, he added. "The return of oriental darter after almost three decades is a sign of good future of Sindh's reservoirs and ecological improvement."

The last recorded sighting of Oriental darter was in 1994, after which it gradually disappeared and became a complete rarity in the Persian Gulf. However, this beautiful feathery guest was once again spotted in recent days perched in a tree near Langh Lake in rural Sindh.

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The long curved neck of the oriental darter looks similar to a snake while swimming in the water, that's why it is also known as "snake bird" in the world. It prefers local migration and does not travel long distances. It hunts fish like cormorants due to its long and thin neck.

According to Meher, it is pleasant to see the oriental darter sitting on a tree in the watershed of Sindh. "This is a sign that the water bodies of Sindh are favourable and there are abundant insects in them, that are favuorable to birds," he said. The oriental darter is scientifically included in Endicater species. Its sighting is a sign of a good environment in Sindh.

Last year also, an oriental darter was seized from the custody of a man near the delta in Atrai area of Sindh, which was later released near Kanjhar Lake.

According to Meher, in the past, the oriental darter was found abundantly throughout Sindh, but during the last 25 to 30 years, lack of fresh water in the rivers and lakes of the province has created environmental complications.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 21^st, 2023.