Rare Indian Skimmer birds spotted after 20 yrs in Bhagalpur

Bhagalpur: The sighting of endangered Indian Skimmer birds along a 60-km stretch of the Ganga between Sultanganj and Kahalgaon under the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary (VGDS) in Bhagalpur district after nearly 20 years has highlighted significant improvement in the river’s ecological health.Known for their distinctive elongated lower beaks and low-flight fishing technique, Indian Skimmers (Rynchops albicollis) are considered an important indicator of healthy freshwater ecosystems with clean water and abundant fish population.In a post on X on Monday, National Mission for Clean Ganga said the birds survive only in river stretches where the water quality remains good.The post stated that the return of the endangered species to the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary after nearly two decades reflected a positive shift in the ecological condition of the Ganga in the region.It further noted that the reappearance of Indian Skimmers in Bhagalpur was an encouraging local milestone and indicated improvement in the water quality of the river over the years.Bird watchers and nature conservationists have welcomed the development, describing it as a positive sign for biodiversity conservation and river ecosystem restoration in Bihar.