Chhari Dhand is a seasonal marshy wetland in Banni grasslands (see the intro post explaining about Banni and Chhari Dhand here) on the southern edge of the Great Rann of Kutch. The seasonal lake is home to a large number of birds in winter, including numerous water birds like Cormorants (See previous posts on Great White Pelicans, Common Cranes, Water Birds, II and Cormorants).
This post contains pics of another water bird, the Oriental Darter or colloquially also called as the Snake Bird because of the way it generally swims where in only its slender snake-like neck is visible above the water.
The name Darter too, alludes to their manner of procuring food, as they impale fishes with their thin, pointed beak.
The Oriental or the Indian Darter is rarest of the four living species of Darters and has been classified as 'Near Threatened' in the Global IUCN Red List since 2004. The population is estimated to number at least 22,000 mature individuals, roughly equivalent to over 33,000 individuals in total. This species is suspected to be in moderately rapid decline, owing to pollution, drainage and hunting.
The Oriental Darter spears a fish underwater, bringing it above the surface, tossing and juggling it before swallowing the fish head first. The structure of the neck is with strongly developed muscles about a kink in the neck that allows it to be flexed and darted forward with rapid force to stab fish underwater. This particular method of hunting lends its Indian name of 'तिरंदाज' (Teerandaz), literally meaning 'archer'.
An Oriental Darter displaying its webbed feet and the kinky neck
Conservation Status: Near Threatened
Range: Indian Sub-continent and SE Asia
Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec, ISO 100
DoP: Nov 22
Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India
An Oriental Darter in flight
Conservation Status: Near Threatened
Range: Indian Sub-continent and SE Asia
Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec, ISO 100
DoP: Nov 22
Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India
Tail on view of an Oriental Darter in flight
Conservation Status: Near Threatened
Range: Indian Sub-continent and SE Asia
Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 sec, ISO 200
DoP: Nov 22
Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India
Habitat Shot : Darters and Cormorants at seasonal lake of Chhari Dhand
Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec, ISO 280
DoP: Nov 22
Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
