Pheasant-tailed Jacana

Pheasant-tailed Jacanas are unique birds which have a colourful plumage during the breeding season and also a rather melodious call that is bound to be responded to by the other bird in the vicinity. Seeing them on the ground is an amazing experience, but seeing them fly is an even more satisfying one. It was a dream come true when on a visit to the Basai Wetland I was able to spot a pair of male Pheasant-tailed Jacanas flying around. The male Jacana has a long tail that seems to billow in the bird's wake while flying. It is rather like an advertisement banner being towed by an aeroplane.

Pheasant-tailed Jacanas are found over a wide range from Asia and Yemen in the west to the Philippines in the east. Incidentally,  The Pheasant-tailed Jacana migrate long distances with plumages that change according to the breeding season. Females are larger than males and are polyandrous. They lay several eggs that are raised by different males in their area.

The Pheasant-tailed Jacana is an eye-catching bird. Resplendent in its breeding plumage, the flash of gold on its nape that catches the rays of the rising sun, and the billowing tail are sights that are amazing to watch. To be able to capture these beautiful birds in flight is simply a dream come true!

As you might notice, Pheasant-tailed Jacanas have disproportionately large feet with very long toes. That is because they are waders, and can be found foraging in shallow water for molluscs, and other small Crustaceans, roots, tubers, insects and seeds. You can often see them treading on vegetation or nesting on clumps of weeds above the water level.

Unfortunately, the number of Pheasant-tailed Jacanas is dwindling fast as a result of environmental degradation. The loss of wetlands, fresh-water bodies, rivers and lakes is an indication that they will soon disappear from sight as a result of shifting to other breeding grounds. A lot of scientists who study migratory birds believe that a shift in migratory behaviour and migratory patterns of birds is a cause for concern. They believe that this shift in migratory patterns of such birds is an indication of the exacerbation of climate change and global warming, all resulting from human activity. Till then, I guess photographs such as these will bring good cheer to those who love nature. India is fast losing its wetlands, lakes and even rivers due to the need for more and more space to accommodate a growing population.