In October 2006, Arvind Mishra, a wildlife conservator received information about a potential new species of birds spotted in Bhagalpur district of Bihar. The tip came from a local wildlife expert and friend Jai Nandan Mandal, and the enthusiast rushed to take a look at the bird.
Reaching the flood plains of the Ganga Diara, he saw two pairs of the bird species that appeared to be bald with penetrating white eyes, a red pouch, white feathers around their neck and dark wings. It took no time for the expert to identify the 1.5 meter tall and beautiful looking bird known as Greater Adjutant Stork.
“I noted the date as 26 October 2006 and the friend accompanied me. The birds were nesting and incubating eggs on a Semal tree, sharing the space with seven nests of Lesser Adjutant Stork (Leptoptilos javanicus),” says 61-year-old Arvind.
The Great Adjutant Stork (Leptoptilos dubius), locally referred to as Garuda, is enlisted as an endangered species under the International Union for…