Lesser Floricans arrive at Velvadar Park for breeding

Forest department to conduct a census of the rare birds

Lesser Floricans, one of the 50 rarest birds in the world, arrived at the Blackbuck National Park (BNP), Velavadar 40 kms away from Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India. The large birds, which belong to the bustard family, fly from Peninsular India to this national park for breeding during the monsoon. As of now, there are about lesser Florincans at the park, but the exact number will be known after a census this weekend.

“It’s a rare sight to watch the spectacular courtship of this bird, in which the male can jump over a meter high to impress the female and attract her, sometimes up to 500 times a day,” assistant Conservator of Forests, BNP, J.S. Solanki said. The males leap suddenly from the grass with a peculiar croaking or knocking call, flutter their wings and fall back with slightly open wings. At the apogee of the leap, the neck is arched backwards and the legs as if in a sitting posture.

The Lesser Floricans is regarded as endangered because its population is declining, primarily as a result of poaching and loss and degradation of dry grassland. The grassland in Velavadar park provides an ideal and safe place for breeding to this bird. These birds start laying eggs in August to September period. After breeding, these omnivorous birds move into peninsular India.

The male in breeding plumage has the head, neck and lower parts black. The throat is however white. About three long ribbon like feathers, about 4 inches long, arise from behind the ear-coverts on each side of the head and extend backwards curving up and ending in a speculate tip. The neck and scapulars are mottled in white with V-shaped marks. The wing coverts are white. After the breeding season, the male tends to have some white in the wing. The female is slightly larger than the male. The females and males in non breeding plumage are buff with black steaks with darker markings on the head and neck. The back is mottled and barred in black. The neck and upper breast are buff with the streaks decreasing towards the belly. The breeding areas of the Lesser Floricans are today restricted mainly to Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, some areas in southern Nepal and parts of Andre Pradesh.

Courtesy:- Times of India.