Open Bill Stork (Jhangil)

 

                                                         Open Bill Stork (Jhangil)

            Once in the state capital of Bihar, Patna I was on an assignment and during that I had travelled in Mid Bihar and on the way I crossed Danapur area which is neighboring place of Patna. While crossing Danapur I saw thousands and thousands of big size bird hovering over that area, seeing them into flight was a visual treat. They stretched their beaks, necks and legs and fully opened their wings while in flight, just like smoothly sailing in placid waters, with little hissing sound. Their activities are visual delight for people. They always fly in groups and not so high in the sky, just above the tops of the trees around that’s why they become victims of poachers. They are called Open Bill Stork and in locale language (Jhangil). As these birds use to make their nests and settled in that area which is near to rural side of Patna and Danapur, so poaching of this, lovely birds are reported sometimes which are thwarted by the army personnals. The army men have made strict rule against poaching of these lovely birds in their area to save them to spend and enjoy their life freely and fearlessly. It can be felt by seeing their activities overthere.

            This distinctive storks mainly found in Indian subcontinent are also called Asian Open Bill Stork (Jhangil) which has large, heavy and wide wingspans. They habitat mostly in wetland, shallow marshes, flooded agricultural field and lakes. Some people took them as Herons, but their behavior clearly distinguished from Heron. Generally they nests at Sultanpur National Park in Harayana, Keoladeo Ghana National Park is also the breeding point place of this bird. In Indian state Assam rural women have made their own group called “Hangrila Army” to protect these birds as they are found in large numbers in Assam’s wet land areas. Open Bill Stork mainly feed fishes, molluscs and other type of pray during summer and winter. They are flock feeder during breeding and non breeding season both. But sometimes single bird is also found forage into their habitat. During non breeding period mostly they like to take rest or indulge in soaring.

            Asian Open bills Stork generally have grayish or pale white plumage with forked black tall, black wings and pinkish grey legs but pale yellow open bill. They are mainly social birds, as they live in colonies and make nests about 40 to 50 on a single tree and generally they are found in flocks. It is a worth visiting site during rainy season at Danapur areas of Patna and also photographers delight. While taking pictures of those lovely birds I used 400 mm lens with high shutter speed and FPS on my Canon Camera.

Text and Photos by- Ashok Karan,

Ashokkaran.blogspot.com,

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