AHMEDABAD: A red-breasted goose, originally a resident of Arctic Siberia, was spotted for the first time in Gujarat, on Tuesday, at Nalsarovar — the only Ramsar site in the state. Unesco’s Ramsar convention, named after the Iranian city where it was inked in 1971, seeks to protect wetlands of international importance.
The red-breasted goose, which is a rarity in the country, was sighted by two Nalsarovar guides, Akbar Alvani and Mahmud Multani. The two were looking for a white-fronted goose, another uncommon bird. When the guides serendipitously saw the red-breasted goose, they took photographs and sent them to experts. The experts confirmed that the bird in the pictures was indeed the red-breasted goose.
Red-breasted geese breed mainly in Arctic Siberia’s Taymyr Peninsula. Smaller populations breed in Gyda and Yamal peninsulas.
The birds are sometimes found with flocks of brent or barnacle geese. Red-breasted geese are distinguished by their dark sooty colour, relieved by white.
Bharat Jethwa, an ornithologist, said that red-breasted geese have never before been seen in Gujarat. Recently, a book titled “Birds of Gujarat” was released and this species was not included as it was never reported in the state. Usually, these birds arrive in groups with other species of geese.
Alvani and Multani are considered expert guides and in the past have spotted other uncommon bird species at Nalsarovar. Jethwa said that the two have reported birds such as Stoliczka’s bushchat, black-bellied tern, greater white-fronted goose, sociable lapwing, Namaqua dove, and Arctic Skua.
To help bird watchers, the forest department took a cue for Nalsarovar from Bharatpur in Rajasthan and moved a proposal to train guides. As a result, several guides were trained for nearly six months.
“We trained them in 2014 and since then they have been finding rare species and earning good money by guiding birders and photographers,” said Jethwa.