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Spot-Billed Pelican

  • April 9, 2023
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPN Topics
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Spot-Billed Pelican

Subject: Environment

Context: The island of Sriharikota serves as a barrier that shields a brackish water lagoon that we call the Pulicat lake. Being mostly off-limits to tourists because it is an ISRO launch site, this area is teeming with 76 species of water birds.

Spot-Billed Pelican:

  • Spot-billed pelicans, also known as grey pelicans, are large waterbirds that are found in South and Southeast Asia. They are one of the eight species of pelicans found around the world.
  • Spot-billed pelicans are found in a variety of habitats including large rivers, lakes, swamps, and estuaries. They prefer areas with tall trees for nesting and shallow water for feeding.
  • These pelicans are large birds, measuring around 140-160 cm in length with a wingspan of 230-350 cm. They have grey and white feathers with a distinctive bright red spot on their bills.
  • It is a social species, living and travelling mainly in flocks. Spot-billed pelicans are not graceful on land, but fly well and are strong swimmers.
  • Spot-billed pelicans feed primarily on fish, but may also eat crustaceans and amphibians.
  • Conservation status:
    • Spot-billed pelicans are listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN. Habitat loss, hunting, and pollution are major threats to their population.
    • The spot-billed pelican is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act of India, and is also listed under Appendix II of CITES.

Pulicat Lake:

  • Pulicat Lagoon is the second largest brackish water lagoon in India, after Chilika Lake. It is present in the Coromondal Regione. Andhra Pradesh–Tamil Nadu Border.
  • The barrier island of Sriharikota separates the lake from the Bay of Bengal and is home to the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
  • The lake encompasses the Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary.
  • Flamingo Festival is held every year to promote tourism in Pulicatlake and Nellapattu. It has been organised for the past 12 years
  • The primary inflows to the Pulicat Lake are Arani, Kalangi and Swarnamukhi.
  • About 96% of the Pulicat Lake is present in Andhra Pradesh while only 3% is present in Tamil Nadu.
  • The Buckingham Canal, a navigation channel, is part of the lagoon on its western side.
  • Pulicat Lake is recognized as a Ramsar Site, a wetland of international importance, since 2002.
Spot-Billed Pelican

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