MEERA BHARDWAJ:
They come to Chilika Lake in hordes to escape the harsh winters in northern Europe and Western Russia. Being the largest brackish water lagoon in Asia, Chilika Lake near Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, India, is unique and protected lake that attracts Black Tailed Godwits in large numbers.
This species is either found in singles or sometimes in pairs and when this reporter visited Mangalajodi that is about 60 odd kilometers from capital city of Bhubaneshwar – found only individuals.
Some of the Black Tailed Godwits that were sighted were either adults or some semi-adults while others were young ones.
Stretching across 1165 square kilometers, the Chilika Lake is a haven for migratory birds and forms an ideal habitat for lakhs of native and migratory birds. It is the second largest coastal lagoon in the world and is spread over Puri, Khurda and Ganjam districts of Odisha.
Even as we traversed across from one end of the lake to the other at Mangalajodi that is full of vegetation and is marshy, we could sight northern pintails, lapwings, curlews, greenshanks, sandpipers, snipes, flamingos and hundreds of other species.
Chilika Lake is not only a feeding habitat for lakhs of native and migratory birds during the winters but also a fishing paradise for the local communities of fishermen and women.
In fact, the local fishing community is involved in the protection of the lake and they also work as guides for birders and recite the names of almost every bird in English that is found here.
As per the IUCN Red List, the Black Tailed Godwits are listed as Threatened species due to continuing habitat loss. Even as we traversed in a row boat across the marshlands of Chilika, the godwits that are shore birds were seen almost in every patch among different groups of waders.
We found a good number of godwits during the month of November-December. Migration is an annual exercise for them and they usually start their journey from the colder regions of the world during August.
And, the godwits start arriving in India during October-November and stay on a few months to forage, feed and get enough rest till April and then fly back home.
With our boatman Ramesh taking us almost near to their sheltering regions, we could see how elegant a bird it was.
The Black Tailed Godwits were present in good numbers across the Chilika Lake; however, I could sight only singles in whichever direction we traversed for almost two hours.
Black Tailed Godwits as the name suggests have a short black tail with white barred wings. Its beak is long with distinctive colors ranging from black to orange-yellow.
This species usually breeds in fens, lake edges, marshy regions, meadows and moorlands. Finding shelter and food in Mangalajodi, the godwits spend a peaceful time as this 300 square kilometer area has seen many protective measures and even hunters turning conservationists.
Escaping the harsh winters of northern Europe and Western Russia, they are found basking in the sunlit Chilika Lake either individuals or in pairs.
The Godwits feed on aquatic plants, grasshoppers, flies, beetles, dragonflies, caterpillars, sometimes eggs of fishes and tadpoles.
The Black Tailed Godwits fly very long distances from the coldest regions of the Europe and Central Asia and they do this without making any stops.
Now why are these birds called as godwits? In olden days, god wits meant that they were good creatures. Its scientific name is: Limosa limosa.
The most beautiful and elegant bird, the Black Tailed Godwits are very graceful and is distinctively colored and therefore, it can be easily sighted amongst hundreds of other birds in the vast Chilika waters.
Compared to other shore birds, the Black Tailed Godwits can be recognized for its long legs, long beak with an orange-rusty head and belly and of course, its graceful posture.
The most beautiful bird, the Black Tailed Godwits have a large distribution range, however, the current annual trends shows a rapid decline in its population. Presently, it is protected under Schedule-II of the Wildlife Protection Act, but it needs more protection looking at the trends.
(PHOTO CREDIT: ALL PHOTOS BY MEERA BHARDWAJ AT CHILIKA LAKE, MANGALAJODI, ODISHA)