Guwahati, Nov 12 (PTI): Assam has recorded the first-ever nesting and breeding of the waterbird species Oriental Darter (Anhinga melanogaster) in the state, marking a significant development in wildlife preservation, Forest and Climate Change Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah said on Thursday.
The observations were made in July 2025 at Bar Panora village in Kamrup district, where researchers recorded an active breeding colony comprising nine nests on a mature 22-metre-tall Samanea saman tree, he said. “The nests were located around 19 metres above the ground and around 13 metres from a nearby wetland,” Baruah said in a social media post. The team counted 51 Oriental Darters at the site, including 18 adults and 33 juveniles or chicks, he added. “Several breeding behaviours were observed, including adults feeding their young, preening, resting, maintaining vigilance and defending their nests,” the minister said.
The nesting tree was also occupied by Asian Openbills, creating a mixed-species nesting site, he added.
Baruah said the findings, published as a short communication in the Journal of Threatened Taxa, were authored by Jyotiprakash Boro, Chandramita Boro, Kuldeep Bora and Baishali Das.
“Although the Oriental Darter is classified as Least Concern by BirdLife International and is widely distributed across parts of Asia, its confirmed breeding in Assam had not previously been documented in published records,” he added.
This discovery is a reminder that Assam’s wetlands are much more than waterbodies and they provide essential feeding, nesting and breeding grounds for a remarkable range of bird species, Baruah said.
“Fish-rich wetlands, mature trees and undisturbed habitats near water are particularly important for the survival and reproduction of waterbirds,” he added.
The researchers have highlighted the need for continued monitoring and protection of nesting trees and surrounding wetlands as these efforts can help maintain suitable breeding habitats and support future conservation planning.
“Every confirmed breeding record adds to our understanding of nature. By protecting our wetlands and the trees that sustain wildlife, we can safeguard Assam’s biodiversity for generations to come,” the Minister asserted.
