Bird in Peril – Lesser Florican

Recently, I visited Sonkhaliya near Ajmer, to photograph a bird that is hanging on the edge – the critically endangered Lesser Florican, effectively endemic to Indian sub continent.

A fellow wildlife enthusiast and I started for our destination at around 4 in the evening and met our naturalist Mr. Rathode midway. Our destination was a precise point, because if left undisturbed, these elusive birds stay in the same vicinity. So we reached at our designated spot in a Bolero without any hindrances.

Peering through the lens we sighted a male Florican; he was far and only his neck was gracefully extending from the grass. We clicked few shots and waited for display that would unfold as the sun began its descent.

Smallest in the bustards family, males are known for their impressive aerial courtship displays in which they leaps vertically in the air and capturing that display has its own array of challenges.

Firstly because of inherent shy nature of bird, proximity would only bring distress to them. Hence ethical choice is to photograph them from far. But that makes capturing the details of their display a complex task.

Also, Lesser floricans are very forgiving by nature, they extends numerous chances to amend errors and we learn to observe and anticipate their movements as they do this grand spectacle as many as 500 times a day with perfection and elegance.

With a respectful distance, we finally got the signature shots of Lesser Florican in all its glory against the lush green background – fitting reward of our trip.

Once the shutter stopped clicking I observed this extraordinary bird with mixed emotions, a sense of exhilaration and sadness intertwined. The joy of witnessing this rarity and its struggle for survival spoke volumes at the fragility of its existence.

Once found in abundance, this extremely shy natured grassland bird is in danger of disappearing forever. “with 340 males of lesser florican reported in India (conservative estimate of 264 individuals only).”

Habitat degradation and climate change are the primary threats. They’re often accompanied by other issues like the introduction of non-native plants, threat of feral dogs, hunting, collisions with power lines. Unpredictable and erratic monsoon patterns disturbs their breeding and feeding, hence all contributing to a decline in their numbers. Changing agricultural patterns is another very prominent reason, higher economic goals, use of pesticides all adds to unintended repercussions.

As I reflect on the responsibility we hold, our actions whether to protect or neglect shape the destiny of this bird.

Despite all odds I am resolute to hang onto this glimmer of hope that our tiny effort will gradually grow into mammoth proportion ensuring that our generation to come will also have the chance to witness this avian ballet in the vast expanse and the bird with inherent resilience, will rise from the brink of obscurity.