Migratory bird Red-crested pochard spotted in Telangana’s Mancherial for the first time

District Forest Officer Shiv Aasheesh Singh said the duck was recorded at the tank for the first time, indicating a welcoming sign for the ecology

Mancherial: A migratory bird, the Red-crested pochard, was recorded in an irrigation tank at Venkatraopet village in Luxettipet mandal for the first time on Sunday, cheering forest officials and environmentalists.

District Forest Officer Shiv Aasheesh Singh said the duck was recorded at the tank for the first time, indicating a welcoming sign for the ecology. He stated that Forest officials who visited the tank for watching birds spotted the red-crested pochard. He added that steps were being taken to ensure safe living conditions for the birds at the tank.

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According to ornithologists, pochards are round-bodied, big-headed, rather silent birds of deep water; they dive well, with closed wings, to feed on aquatic plants. They breed on freshwater lakes and pools, particularly with reedbeds.

They are distributed in central Europe, Asia and Mongolia. They are called diving ducks. They are migratory, flying between breeding grounds and wintering sites.

Nature lovers, experts, birders, scientists, wildlife photographers and students from Forest College and Research Institute of Mulugu and top officials of the Forest department, who participated in the two-day Kawal Bird Festival, swarmed the tank watching activities of the avian community.

They clicked photographers of the birds inhabiting the tank.