Let’s talk about the Indian skimmer
© PS Anand
Meet the Indian Skimmer
The Indian skimmer (Rynchops albicollis) gets its name from the way it feeds, flying low over the water surface and ‘skimming’ for fish. The bird is one of our Fantastic Freshwater species, recognisable by its bright orange bill and sharp “kyap kyap” call.
The Indian skimmer forms noisy colonies around rivers, lakes, swamps and coastal wetlands. The bird is now almost completely restricted to India as a breeding bird, particularly the Chambal, Ganga, Son and Mahanadi river areas.
© PS Anand
The (re)production line
The Indian skimmer is one of the 50 landmark species at high risk of extinction identified in SHOAL’s Fantastic Freshwater* report. Published on 19th May 2022 (International Day for Biodiversity), Fantastic Freshwater highlights the diversity and beauty of freshwater species and the immense threats they face to their survival.
Once common, the species has suffered decades of population decline. Numbers have tumbled more than 20% in the past 11 years, just two generations of the Indian skimmer. Without action, it’s estimated that up to 46% of the remaining birds could be lost in the next three generations (approximately 17 years).
Issues lie in the rate of reproduction, as the species is no longer breeding in formerly occupied parts of its range, such as Myanmar. Other threats have resulted in fewer eggs hatching and fewer chicks surviving to adulthood.
The species is being threatened by:
- Increased variation in water levels caused by dams irritation and sand mining along the river of the species’ range.
- Human and predator disturbance onto islands where the birds breed.
Pollution from agricultural and industrial chemicals.
© PS Anand
Protecting the future
At the current rate of reproduction, without concerted conservation action, the Indian skimmer is Endangered with its future in great jeopardy.
The Government of India’s National Mission for Clean Ganga recognises the bird as a priority species for conservation. Projects to conserve threatened riverine birds, with the skimmer as flagship, are being carried out on the Mahanadi, Son and Chambal Rivers.
A range of actions are being taken in these vital breeding grounds as part of the conservation projects. This includes the appointment of nest site guardians, education and outreach work, with the goal of protecting nests to increase breeding success.
If you want to support the work SHOAL are doing to conserve freshwater species through action-driven conservation donate here. Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter The Stream to get all the latest freshwater news straight to your inbox
*The Fantastic Freshwater: 50 landmark species for conservation report is led by SHOAL, the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC), the IUCN SSC Freshwater Conservation Committee, and the Global Center for Species Survival at the Indianapolis Zoo.
