Chhari Dhand Wetland Reserve Part VII : The Snake Bird

   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

Chhari Dhand Wetland Reserve Part VI : Cormorants

    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 and Water Birds, II).

   Interestingly Cormorants are called as 'Pan Kauwa' in Hindi, literally meaning 'Water Crow'.

A Little Cormorant displaying his shiny black designer cloak

Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR

Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec, ISO 200

DoP: Nov 22

Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India

 

A Little Cormorant spreads its wings like a death-eaters cloak

while the Coots feed on

Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR

Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec, ISO 160

DoP: Nov 22

Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India

Little Cormorants at 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 220

DoP: Nov 22

Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India

Little Cormorant, Coots and a male Northern Shoveler at 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 250

DoP: Nov 22

Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India

Habitat Shot: Little Cormorants at 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 250

DoP: Nov 22

Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India

Chhari Dhand Wetland Reserve Part I : Introduction

The Chhari Dhand Wetland Reserve : Winter base for large squadrons of Pelicans

   The Chari-Dhand wetland conservation reserve is located on the edge of arid Banni grasslands and the marshy salt flats of the Rann of Kutch in Kutch district, Gujarat State in India. The shallow wetlands of Banni Grasslands in the heart of Kutch are a dream for birding enthusiasts. Chhari means ‘salty’ and Dhand means ‘shallow wetlands’ in the local language. More than 370 species, including raptors, waders and larks are found in the region and the population goes up during the winters when migratory birds make this a veritable stop.

   Banni is a low lying peninsular tract of land extending into the Rann between the Pachham Bet (Bet = Islands in Rann) and the Kutch mainland. It is probably a bank or bar or bar of soil brought down by the north flowing Kutch rivers, and probably lifted by one of the many earthquakes of Kutch. Infact, the word 'Banni' is said to come from Hindi word 'banai ', meaning made. The Banni stretches almost parallel to the coast line of Kutch, about a hundred km long and from fifteen to twenty five broad. Where it joins the mainland, the Banni is so low that it can hardly be distinguished from the Rann. Further out it rises gently, but, except for one narrow strip in the west, is all apt to be covered in water in times of high flood. The whole is covered with coarse grass, babul trees and many halophile (salt tolerant) vegetation of scrubs and trees. It supports large herds of buffalo and other cattle, reared by the various pastoralist communities of Maldharis. 

   Banni grasslands form a belt of arid grassland ecosystem on the outer southern edge of the desert of the marshy salt flats of Rann of Kutch. Monsoon rains each year form several marshy wetlands which dot the Banni grasslands and the areas adjacent to it, all being seasonal in nature. In the local Kutchhi-Sindhi language there are four terms used for wetlands, they are Kar (smallest), Chhachh (bigger than Kar), Thathh (bigger than Chhach) and Dhand (the biggest of the wetlands). Chari-Dhand is the biggest in size among all of them. The area of each of these seasonal freshwater wetlands during any given year depends upon the amount of rainfall received during that year.

   Winters, especially after a good monsoon in Kutch or floods in Sindh, witness a magical and unimaginable congregation of migratory birds, given how dry, salty and sparsely vegetated Kutch otherwise is. Chief numbers are of the Common Cranes, Sedges of which can be found literally grazing the grasslands; large squadrons of Great White Pelicans and Dalmatian Pelicans; Flamboyance of Flamingos; Eurasian Spoonbills and numerous other water birds.

Sedge of Common Cranes grazing the Banni grasslands

Seasonal Lake of Chhari Dhand

   

The Chhari Dhand Lake

Cormorants and Darters at Chhari Dhand

   The beautiful conical hill seen in the image above is said to be fossil rich.

   The experience of drive to the Chhari Dhand on unpaved paths crowded with the early birds...

Drive to Chari Dhand

   Also exciting is the drive through the grasslands...

Drive through Chari Dhand

   Dhinodhar hill, the only known / documented volcano on Indian subcontinental mainland looms over  the Chhari Dhand on southern horizon

Dhinodhar Volcano on the horizon

   The unbelievably lush grasslands bordering the Chhari Dhand lake

Grasslands of Chhari Dhand, who would say its bordering the Rann

Chhari Dhand Grasslands with Pelicans and Cranes

   One can also see few wild mammals and herds of hundreds of Kharai Camels, a unique breed of camels found only in Kutch.

Kharai Camels of Kutch

   Hope you enjoyed this introductory post, stay tuned for more...