KATHMANDU, Dec 21: A visitor Laxman Stork has arrived on the lower bank of the Karnali River. The Laxman Stork was spotted on Saturday in the riverbank area of Sri Lanka Island in Tikapur Municipality, Kailali.
According to Hiru Lal Dagaura, an ornithologist at the Bird Conservation Society of Nepal (BCN), this species of stork has been continuously appearing in the coastal area of the Karnali River for the past four years.
Among the four species of storks found in Nepal, the Laxman Stork is an invasive species. It was first recorded in 2006 when this species of stork was seen in Bhajani's Mantriphanta.
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Ornithologist Dagaura says that the Laxman Stork has been continuously appearing in winter since 2021. According to him, it is categorized as a social bird because it lives in groups.
As the cold weather in Siberia and the North Pole increases, this bird migrates to the hot Terai regions of Nepal, India, and Pakistan. It can be seen in the coastal areas of Nepal, including Mahakali, Karnali, Koshi, Narayani, Rapti and other rivers.
Bird conservationist Suban Chaudhary said that sometimes this species of crane is also seen in the coastal areas of Kanchanpur, including Sanbora and Sally. He mentioned that hundreds of Laxman storks were seen on the banks of the Sally River last year.
Laxman stork is medium-sized among the crane species. Its body weight is an average of four to five kilograms and the color of the feathers on the body is gray. Its head is black with black, red and white stripes extending from behind the eyes to the upper part. Ornithologists say that this bird breeds and raises its young in lakes, ponds and coastal areas of Siberia and other cold places.
Ornithologist Dangaura said that after the snowfall in the North Pole, this species of storks migrates annually to India and Sri Lanka via Nepal in search of favorable weather, safe habitat and pasture.
In the same vein, these birds also settle in Nepal if they find a favorable location. “Storks are considered an indicator species of wetlands. The presence of storks indicates that the wetlands and ecosystem are healthy,” he said. “These birds help in grain production by controlling the number of snakes and eating other species of insects that are harmful to agricultural crops, including snails.
In addition, experts say that when predatory animals like tigers and leopards approach, storks scream to inform them and prevent them from being attacked. When summer begins, storks return to their original habitat before Chaitra.
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