Project Title
Engaging the local community to understand and preserve the critically endangered White-bellied Heron (Arden insignis) and the endangered White-winged Duck (Asarcornis scutulata) along the Brahmaputra river basin.
Project Grantees
Megha Rao (MSc. in Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Pondicherry University, India) and Rohan K. Menzies (MSc. in Zoology, University of Otago, New Zealand).
Q & A with the Grantees
1) What role do you see the communities playing in the conservation of the White-bellied Heron and White-winged Duck?
Given our immense population and constant increase in space occupied by humans, the need for man to live alongside nature while ensuring a fine balance has become extremely crucial. It is no different when it comes to the White-bellied Heron and the White-winged Duck. The communities play a vital role in the continued occurrence of both species, especially in and around regions where the birds are regularly recorded. For the White-bellied Heron, the maintenance of healthy river systems is crucial to its survival. This species is highly sensitive to human presence and any disturbances such as mining or construction near the rivers would be detrimental to it. Being almost exclusively piscivorous, a consistently healthy fish population is also required and therefore, overfishing and unsustainable fishing practices could prove dangerous. Fortunately, Namdapha Tiger Reserve where the main White-bellied Heron population occurs in India is largely free of such disturbances. It is likely the reason why the species is able to survive there. The White-bellied Herons appear to coexist with the communities around Namdapha. Furthermore, we believe that the community present in Namdapha does not pose a threat to the birds.
White-winged Ducks mainly occupy forested pools and occasionally streams, which are both dependent on the activities of the local communities given the proximity to human habitations. If there is logging or fishing, these forested pools can become uninhabitable for the ducks. They are also highly sensitive to human presence and activities and demand conducive environmental conditions in order to survive. For both endangered species, the local communities would have to be involved in maintaining the ecosystems, minimising disturbance and activities in the region, spreading awareness about the importance of these species, and discouraging hunting.
2) Any memorable experience from your time in the field that you would like to share?
The first sightings of both species were great experiences. Since we were surveying such a large area, we always started fieldwork with the hopes that we might see one of the birds. Our first sighting of the White-bellied Heron at Namdapha was very exciting. Our field assistant, Japang Pansa, was walking ahead of us on the river bank, when he stopped and waited. He then called us over to him and pointed at a rock on the river. In the distance, we could see a single White-bellied Heron foraging in the rapids. It was an incredible moment and the first time seeing such a rare species. We watched that first bird for a long time before continuing with the survey.
Our first sighting of the White-winged Duck was at Nameri Tiger Reserve. We had tried looking for this species in many parts of Arunachal Pradesh for six long months but with no luck. In Nameri, however, on our very first visit, we were fortunate enough to see it. As we approached the pond, our field assistant told us to walk very quietly and to not make any sudden movements. At a considerable distance we saw four White-winged Ducks in the water. It was a brief sighting as they flew away soon after that, perhaps because they sensed us approaching. Both these moments were very special.
3) What gaps in the knowledge of the current status of the two avian species has your project helped to fill?
The main objective behind studying these two species was not only because they are endangered, but also because they are highly data deficient. To be an endangered species that receives very little attention in terms of conservation and is grossly understudied, is not a very promising situation.
To be able to study a species, we need to first understand where they are found, and this in very simple terms was the aim of our project. One can only come up with well-planned conservation strategies when a holistic understanding of a species is present; distribution contributes to a large part of this. While we did not find any new locations, we did potentially rule out their presence in many areas. We were able to assess much of the accessible stretches of seven rivers in Arunachal Pradesh and the forested pools in Assam. This can provide researchers in the future a baseline to start exploring further in more remote reaches and save them both time and resources. We also gathered a lot of data on the anthropogenic impacts that were present in and around waterbodies in the northeast. We assessed the threats faced, the best habitats available for each species, and estimated the populations in each place. Through our key informant surveys, we could also better understand the knowledge and awareness of the local communities with respect to these species. These birds proved to be elusive to even those who frequented the forests and rivers of northeast India.
Images courtesy: Megha Rao and Rohan K. Menzies