Knowledge Nugget: Why is the sharp-tailed sandpiper’s sighting in Delhi significant?
On August 30, a rare sighting of the Sharp-tailed sandpiper (Calidris acuminata) was documented at Najafgarh Lake in Delhi, a location with only limited recorded instances of the species in India and globally. Conservationist Akshit Dua captured the male bird foraging among common sandpipers and wood sandpipers, marking the fifth documented sighting of the species in India over nearly 150 years.
The bird breeds in northern Siberia and migrates to Australia and New Zealand, with some traveling to Melanesia, making its visit to India exceptionally uncommon. Classified as 'Vulnerable' by the IUCN Red List, the Sharp-tailed sandpiper faces threats from habitat loss and degradation, particularly in crucial stopover regions along its migration route.
Delhi's bird diversity, according to the Delhi Bird Atlas, is second only to Nairobi, with 471 species identified. Geography, including the Aravallis, proximity to the Himalayas, the Yamuna and Sahibi floodplains, and its location along the Central Asian Flyway, contribute to this rich avian population.
Written by urgent.news from The Indian Express's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
