SLUG: Who’s that Bird
This is a story of immortal love which has been passed down through various generations in Indian folklore. Legend, describes about a pair of lovers torn apart by unkind fate, ceaselessly calling and answering each other in anguished tones. If you thought this is the beginning of a hit love story you are mistaken. This is how renowned ornithologist Dr. Salim Ali describes pair bonding in one of the biggest migrant duck species to Goa, Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna Ferruginea).
Ruddy Shelduck also known in India as Brahminy Shelduck belongs to the Anatidae family which includes all ducks, geese and swans. This species was discovered and described in 1760’s by Peter Pallas, a German Zoologist. This duck is quite big, and can grow up to two and a half feet in size with a wing span of three and a half feet! The male and female of this species are sexually dimorphic (different). The male has a brownish-orange plumage and a tad bit paler towards the head. Males also have a characteristic black collar which it develops during the breeding season and then looses. During winter though, it partially acquires this collar again. Females on the other hand have a very pale, almost whitish head and lack this black collar. They are smaller than the males in size. Both the sexes have black beak and legs.
This species has quite a wide breeding range, from southeastern Europe to central Asia. There are small resident populations in North Africa too which don’t migrate. In their breeding grounds of Tibet, these birds are very carefree in nature towards the presence of humans because of the long durations of conditioning to the non violent nature of the Buddhist people, so much so that they will even roost or nest in their houses. All this carefree nature changes entirely when they come towards their wintering grounds, where they are very vigilant and will fly off giving out loud calls even with the slightest disturbance. Their call is similar to the classic “honking” calls of ducks that we are taught as children in schools. They are graceful fliers but are terrible landers and often just plop into the water with a big splash, which is very funny to observe.
Males and females of this species are pair bond and in general will not change mates for their entire lifetime. Ruddy Shelduck is regular winter visitor to various wetlands of Goa. They can usually be found in pairs or in groups of 15-20, but sometimes flocks of up-to 100 are also not uncommon.
In 2014, Goa Bird Conservation Network conducted a first of its kind “All Goa Waterbird Count” where it was found that the population of this species in Goa is stable, but vulnerable to degradation of wetlands.
Quick Facts
Regular winter visitors to Goa
Karmali Lake, Dhado Wetland, Maina-Curtorim Wetlands, Navelim-Bicholim Wetlands and Batim Lake are some of the important wintering areas of this species
They are omnivorous and will eat plant material and aquatic insects and shells
Their habitat in Goa is under threat due to habitat shrinking and reduction in agricultural activities
Every year during the 2nd and 3rd weekend of January, All Goa Waterbird Count is conducted by GBCN which helps in estimating the population of all migratory wetland birds in Goa.
