An intense storm in Jorhat, Assam, damaged trees and a long-standing nesting site of Asian Openbill storks (Anastomus oscitans), locally known as Shamukbhonga. 

More About the News

• Around 62 birds were killed and 68 injured, with most of the dead birds reportedly being chicks.
• The Forest Department rescued injured birds and shifted them to the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation near Kaziranga National Park. 
• The incident highlights the need to combine wildlife rescue with protection of natural and urban nesting habitats.

About the Asian Openbill

• • The Asian Openbill is a resident wading bird associated mainly with wetlands, marshes, flooded agricultural areas and other shallow-water habitats. 
  • It is found widely across the Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia.
  • Its scientific name is Anastomus oscitans and it belongs to the stork family, Ciconiidae. 
  • It is the smallest among the nine stork species found in India.
  • They are pale grey storks with black scapulars and reimages, black tail, short reddish legs and a swollen looking bill with a narrow gap between mandibles.

• Adult birds have a prominent gap between down–curved upper and recurved lower mandible as an adaptation for grasping snails which is their main prey. 

• However young birds are born without gap in the bill

• It feeds mainly on aquatic organisms, particularly freshwater snails, making wetlands important for its survival.
• The species is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List and is included in Schedule II of India’s Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. 

Why Are the Jorhat Nesting Trees Important?

The Asian Openbill usually builds its nests on tall trees during the breeding season. The trees along K. K. Baruah Road has developed into a recurring communal nesting site.

• Severe storms can uproot nesting trees or break branches, directly killing chicks and adult birds.
• Large colonies can also increase the weight on branches, making structurally weak branches more vulnerable.
• The incident is therefore an example of how extreme weather events can interact with habitat vulnerability to cause sudden wildlife mortality.

A similar incident occurred in 2017, when more than 150 hatchlings died after branches from nesting trees broke and fell.

Prelims Question: 

Consider the following statements about the Asian Openbill:

1. It is primarily associated with wetland habitats.
2. Its scientific name is Anastomus oscitans.
3. It is classified as Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Answer: 1 and 2 only.

Exam Hook

Prelims: Asian Openbill — Anastomus oscitans — resident wetland bird — Least Concern — Schedule II under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.