The Waterfowl species of Loktak Ramsar in Manipur (IBA)
- Lesser Whistling-Duck (Tingi) -

By:- R.K. Birjit Singh *

The most abundant water bird in Loktak

The Lesser Whistling Duck Dendrocygna javanica, locally known as "Tingi" is the most abundant waterfowl species in Loktak wetland (IBA) also known as Indian Whistling Duck or Tree Duck. It is a resident, small whistling duck which breeds in South Asia and Southeast Asia. In other classification, it is also known as Lesser Whistling Teal.

Although the species is resident bird, local migration can be seen due to flood and drought sitution of the habitat. As per hard time census data made available by GENIM & MASS and IBCN(BNHS), the highest number of population of this species can be observed at Khordak and Nongmaikhong area (NS - 24.438020 ; EO - 93.852100 ) and Birahari pat - Ningthoukhong area (NS - 24.60330 ; EO - 93.82550) of Loktak lake. Interestingly, local fisherman in and around the lake started domesticating this duck species.

Description of the Bird:

The size of the bird is comparable as that of the domestic duck even though it is slightly smaller. Lesser Whistling Ducks are different from other ducks in having longer legs, head and an erect goose-like posture when alert. Their wings are also round and broad.

A small pale brown and marron-chestnut coloured duck confusable with no other of the same size except the rarer Large Whistling-Duck.This species has a grey bill, long head and longish legs. It has a buff head, neck and underparts, and a darker crown.

The back and wings are darkish grey, and there are chestnut patches on the wings and tail. All plumages are similar.

Distribution of the Bird:

This is a largely resident species distributed throughout Indian Union, lower river valleys eastwards across most of peninsular India, Nepal Terai, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, south China, to Vietnam.

It is subject to local movement influenced by flood and drought. But Chinese birds winter further south. Covering between 1 to 10 million km*, it is estimated to have a global population of between two and twenty million individuals.

Habit:

Rests on weed-covered lakes, floating Phum (floating biomass) during daytime, flighting to flooded rice fileds to feed during the night. Walks well on marshland often grazing like goose, and is a good diver. Perches freely in trees.A shrill wheezy, whistling call seasick,seasick, uttered on the wing.

Food:

This duck species largely vegeterian and eat shoots and grain growing in the floating biomass but also eat small fishes and snails etc. Lesser Whistling Ducks feed mostly at night, in small family groups. The bird have adapted feeding on domestic waste of the Phum dwellers (Fisherman living in floating hut).

Lesser Whistling Ducks eat aquatic vegetation by dabbling on the water surface in shallow water. Like other waterfowl, they have a highly sensitive, fleshy tongue, which has a spiny surface.

To efficiently sift for edible tidbits, the tongue is worked against rows of horny lamellae that line the mandibles. This produces the typical chattering sound of feeding waterfowl. They also dive frequently for underwater tidbits.

Nesting Season:

Nesting season is particularly during monsoon from June to October and also December to January. It nests in Phum(Floating biomass), old nests of other birds, or on a stick platform near the ground, among reeds and lays 7-12 eggs ivory white in colour. Both sexes incubate and lead the young ones. Unlike other ducks, males and females look similar, and there is no special breeding plumage.

Sources:
GENIM & MASS

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has put this waterbird in the Least Concern (LC) category of the International Conservation Status. Even though this ducks species is the most abundant bird in Loktak lake, sharp decilnation of their population can be seen during the last decade.

Immense abundance does not immunize a species from extinction. The story of Passenger Pigeon of America can be a good example and despite their abundance and large number, today there is not even a single Passenger pigeon on the earth now. Therefore, the least concern status of IUCN of this bird species can one day be either threatened or extinct species in wild.

Lesser Whistling-Duck is leading in the population tally for a period of thirteen consecutive years of Mid-Winter Waterfowl Census program conducted by GENIM&MASS (Partner designate of IBCN, BNHS) since 1996.

Now the question is that what is the reason and factor behind the leading in population tally by this species from the rest of the other waterfowl species in Loktak Lake for a consecutive period of 13 years?.

The reason behind is high adaptability of the species on different variety of food and habitats. The fishing community and people around the lake prefer other waterfowl species in terms of taste of their flesh. Gaining momentum of the awareness of the people as a result of the activities of the GENIM, MASS and EPSF.

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* R.K. Birjit Singh contributes to e-pao.net regularly . The author is a regular contributor to the reputed science journals, "The Resonance", Science Reporter, "Hornbill, Birdlife", published respectively by Indian Academy of Science, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research(CSIR), Bombay Natural History Society(BNHS) and Co-organizer of Science Meet, Coordinator of "Year of Scientific Awareness"(YSA), Understanding Planet Earth(UPE) under NCSTC, DST, Govt. of India. In addition, the author is the census coordinator of "Waterfowl Census programme at Loktak wetland" and providing data's to the Asian Waterfowl count of the Wetland International, South East Asia with Dr. R.K. Ranjan Singh.
The Author is also a member IBA- IBCN, BNHS (Census Coordinator, Manipur)
The writer can be contacted at bsningthemcha(at)gmail(dot)com
This article was webcasted at e-pao.net on 21st September 2009.

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