Indian Skimmers make home in Gudda dam wetlands

Birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts are thrilled with the overwhelming presence of Indian skimmers, one of the rarely found water bird species, for a second year in the wetlands of Gudda dam of Bundi district.

Locally called Panchida, Kanchi Choch is characterized by black cap and deep orange beak. However, it bears resemblance to the Reverse Turn bird. The bird is chiefly known for its twin jaws of scissor beaks.

“The bird, while flying around 2-3 feet above water, shears the water with its beak like splitting through the milk layer with a hand pan,’ says, Satish Jain, assistant conservator of forest, Bundi. 

While flying at a considerably low height, the bird keeps picking up fish and swallowing it, he added. Indian skimmers prefer tranquil and clean environment and bigger water bodies to dwell upon for the winter season and are in large numbers found in Kanak Sagar Lake and Gudda Dam of Bundi district, Prithvi Singh Rajawat, a wildlife activist and birdwatcher told DNA.  The Indian skimmers also lay eggs in open in sand, he added. 

Indian skimmers are categorized among unsafe and crisis-hit birds and are estimated to be left in numbers around 6,000 to 10,000 in India and Pakistan.

An Endangered Species

• Indian Skimmers are categorized among unsafe and crisis-hit birds.
• They are estimated to be left in numbers around 6,000 to 10,000 in India and in Pakistan.
• Locally called Panchida, Kanchi Choch is characterized  by black cap and deep orange beak.
• The Indian skimmers are known to lay eggs in open in the sand.