The winter of 2002 is recorded as Goa’s best migratory season in ornithological history and most local bird watchers today only wish there was a time machine which could take them to the past, for it was in this year that Goan ornithologist Heinz Lainer reported more than 1, 20,000 Northern Pintails ()from Divar-Chorao region!
The Northern Pintail is by far the most common migratory duck to the Indian subcontinent. This species has a wide range and breeds in North-America, Europe and Russia (Siberia) during summers and to escape the harsh winters in these places migrate southwards. Ringing data from as before as 1969, show that most of the Northern Pintails that visit India, breed in Russia and North Europe.
The Northern Pintail is sexually dimorphic, that is the male and female look different from each other. The plumage of the male is a combination of dull grey and white. The head is dark chocolaty brown and a single white band on each side of the neck, runs down to meet the breast. The rump is black in colour and the tail feathers elongate into a fine needle. In flight, from above a tricoloured wing bar is visible in the following order: a narrow brown bar, followed by a broad metallic green bar and a thin white bar. The plumage of the female varies from dark brown to off white and is highly mottled. It doesn’t have this characteristic wing bar as in the male. In both sexes the bill, feet are uniformly grey and the tail is extended to form a pin like structure which has given rise to the name of this bird.
Post 2002, the population of the visiting Northern Pintail to Goa has been steadily declining. At one time, Carambolim Lake used to be filled with this species but now there are none which visit this site. Flocks of up to 100 individuals can be spotted in Dhado though. Batim, Curtorim, Macazana and Verna are some other places in Goa where one can see the Pintails in relatively good numbers. This drop in numbers though is not alarming because another species of duck, the Green-winged Teal has replaced the Northern Pintail as the most abundant winter visitor to Goa, while the Pintail remains to be a common visitor to other parts of India. Often, drop in population of migrant birds are immediately linked to local environmental causes and we should exercise caution before coming to such general conclusions. Globally, Pintails are under pressure due to hunting but very less threat exists in Goa. Our major concern in the state though is unsustainable and insensible management of wetlands. Reverting back to traditional systems of agriculture and water management would solve majority of the problems associated with wetlands of the state.
Image: Ronit Dutta
