Theh Kanjla village: A birder’s paradise

Studying the pattern of migratory birds, their breeding habitats, feeding habits, plumage patterns and mating calls can be quite interesting. This is the reason why Theh Kanjla village, nearly 3 km from the Kanjli Wetland, on the outskirts of Kapurthala, has emerged as a birdwatcher’s paradise, as they are able to spot some rare species here. With little human activity around this area, falling near the Modern Jail, it has now assumed more importance than that of the Kanjli Wetland owing to massive construction work going on at the wetland site, where a new cycling track, walkway etc. are coming up. A lot of morning walkers, too, dither these winged guests from visiting the wetland area.

As winter season is just round the corner, Tribune lensman spent two days at the village site to capture a variety of birds through his lenses. Spending six hours a day from as early as 6 am to 12 noon, he was successful in capturing some rare species swimming in the lotus-filled sewage ponds formed out of vacant industrial plots of the Urban Estate, while others were captured in flight or while perching atop trees and wires. Some of these birds are local, while others have migrated in this new breeding ground from surrounding Asian countries. Ajay Sidhu, an avid bird watcher, guided The Tribune team towards the new location.

Red-naped Ibis

This species is found in the plains of the Indian subcontinent. It is a large black bird with long legs and a long down-curved bill. The wing feathers and tail are black with bluish-green gloss, while the neck and body are brown minus the gloss. The top of the featherless head is a patch of bright red warty skin.

Purple Sunbird

It is a small bird found mainly in South Asia. Like other sunbirds, it feeds mainly on nectar, although it also consumes insects. It has a fast and direct flight and can take nectar by hovering like a humming bird, but often perches at the base of flowers. It has a dark and short square-ended tail and has a down-curved bill.

Indian Silverbill

It is a small bird found in the Indian subcontinent. It has a conical silver-grey bill, buff-brown upperparts, white underparts, buffy flanks and dark wings. The tail is black and the wings dark. It feeds mainly on seeds, but also takes insects and has been known to visit nectar-bearing flowers. Although largely sedentary, some populations make seasonal movements.

Purple Heron

It is a wading bird in the heron family, which hunts fish, rodents, frogs and insects by either stalking them or standing and waiting in ambush.

Egret

It is a heron, which has white or buff plumage and develops fine plumes (usually milky white) during the breeding season.

Black-winged Kite

It is distinctive with long wings; white, grey and black plumage; and owl-like forward-facing eyes. They are non-migratory, but show nomadism in response to weather and food availability.

Jacobin Cuckoo

It is a member of the cuckoo order of birds that is found in Africa and Asia. It is partially migratory and in India, it has been considered a harbinger of the monsoon rains due to the timing of its arrival.

White-breasted Kingfisher

It is a tree kingfisher, widely distributed in the Indian subcontinent to the Philippines. It feeds on a wide range of prey that includes small reptiles, amphibians, crabs, small rodents and even birds. During the breeding season, it calls out loudly in the mornings from prominent perches, including the tops of buildings in urban areas or on wires.

Black-winged Stilt

It is a long-legged wader. It has slender, pink legs, a long thin black bill and is blackish above and white below with a white head.

Little Cormorant

It belongs to the family of seabirds. The entire body is black in the breeding season, but the plumage is brownish and the throat has a small whitish patch in the non-breeding season.

Pheasant Tailed Jacana

It has elongated toes and nails. It swims or walks on aquatic vegetation. The body is chocolate brown, with a white face and the back of the crown is black with white stripes running down the sides of the neck. The wings are predominantly white. A dark eye stripe runs down the sides of the neck and forms a dark necklace on a slightly sullied white front.

Plain Prinia

It is a small warbler found in the Southeast Asia. It has short rounded wings, a longish tail, strong legs and a short black bill.

Black-headed Swamphen

It is a large bluish-purple gallinule with a red bill and forehead shield, and red legs and feet with long toes. It is a common inhabitant of marshy, vegetated freshwater bodies such as swamps, rivers and lakes and usually lives in small groups.

Spot-billed Duck

This bird is a large non-migratory breeding duck found in freshwater wetlands in the Indian subcontinent. Its name is derived from the red spot at the base of the bill. It has a scaly patterned body with a green speculum bordered by white.

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