Asian Openbill Storks in Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary
Trip to Ranganathittu Bird sanctuary is always fun and excitement! Roads from Bangalore to the sanctuary is so good that in a couple of hours you are there.
Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary is one of the best weekend getaway for all bird lovers of Bangalore and Mysore. On lean days and early mornings of weekend there is hardly any crowd.
The boatmen who steer you around are knowledgeable and can identify all birds. Even you can identify them if you observe the peculiar features of different birds.
Asian Openbill Storks at Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary Karnataka.
Asian Openbill Storks in Ranganathittu
On this trip I learned to identify Asian Openbill Storks at Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary.
Can you identify Asian Openbill storks? Well, it is easy! You will not fail to identify an Openbill Stork, if you see one in a huge flock of different species of storks. The name has the clue.
Observe carefully the features of their beaks. Their weirdly shaped bills give them away. Notice its peculiar huge bill with arching mandibles leaving a narrow open gap between them. They are grayish white with black in their wings.
We spotted few of them at Ranganathittu bird sanctuary. The chicks had very short bills and we found them clamoring around the mother bird each time she would come with a catch in her bills.
Asian openbill storks Ranganathittu, Anastomus oscitans.
This species of storks has a much specialized feeding habit. Their diet usually consists of frogs, crabs, large insects, snails and small living things. But their favorite is the golden apple snail. The unique structure of their bills help them to crack open the thick shell of the snails and separate the soft body. Their bills are well adapted to handle hard slippery shells of the snails.
Features of Asian Openbill Storks
These birds have a grayish plumage with glossy black wings and tail that have a green or purple sheen. Their shorter neck length is another feature that helps in distinguishing it from other storks.
The short legs are pinkish to grey which turn reddish prior to breeding. During breeding season these birds have white wings instead of their usual dull gray color. We could hear their low honking notes when greeting a partner arriving at the nest.
Breeding time of Asian Openbill Storks is between November to March in southern India and Sri Lanka. These are local migratory birds, but some do migrate in from Southeast Asia. They coexist well with egrets, spoonbill storks, and other species of storks.
Their nests that we saw at close distance were just like a circular platform of twigs. The chicks were slightly grown up with new feathers and a face that only a mother can love.
Chick of Asian Openbill Storks Ranganathittu Sanctuary
Why Farmers Love Asian Openbill Storks
During 1980s golden apple snails were introduced in India from South America. It was meant to be included in diet for people. However they have multiplied at a fast rate and have started harming the crops of farmers. They have become more of a pest now.
Asian Openbill Storks feed on these snails. Because of their peculiar bill shape they are able to crack open the shells and consume the soft flesh within.
Since these snails attack rice crops the most, Asian Openbill Storks are seen to flock around the paddy fields. They spend most of the day in wetlands, agricultural fields, and marshy areas. Some day I would like to see how they break open the shells of the snail.
Timings of Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary
It is open on all days from 9am to 6pm.
Address is Ranganathittu Road, District Mandya, Srirangapatna, Karnataka 571438.
(This post was first published on June 26, 2009.)
The Pictures of Asian Openbill Storks in Ranganathittu are beautiful. You Have a Nice and Safe Day. . . 🙂
I could recall now the sound of cry I heard in Vedanthangal. Couldn’t believe are these chicks, look like the grown ones! Nice capture.
It is great to know that even in the summer they are available. 🙂
Gorgeous birds!!
Interesting!
Lots of feathered friends in the tree. They look heavy for those little branches.
And so many! Great shots!
Hi Indrani! Wonderful post!! Lovely pictures! And always learning…
Blogtrotter is anticipating the 4th of July fireworks; but in a different country… 😉 Have a great weekend (or vacation, should you have that chance…)!
Beautiful pictures. I can see them again and again.
So, Stork visited your blog!
Nice and different.
http://ektakhetan.blogspot.com
you always have such fascinating photos
Excellent pictures!!! It's so refreshing to see wildlife which alas is no longer visible in cities and concrete jungles 🙁
Keep up the good work!
Regds,
Veena / pubdomains.com
Wow you have a lovely Blog!
I am your new follower!
~Rocio
http://www.mamipicture.com
Great shots of the storks and a very informative post.
Great shot!
nice photograph..
Great photos of the stork, and interesting to see the profile and how the "openbill" looks.
You're right… only a mother would love those faces. Very unique bills. Thanks for stopping by.
wonderful captures!
beautiful………
apka javabnahi indrani ji….
Great shots of very interesting looking birds!
Nice to see such a healthy group of storks. Great pictures.
I think this Ranganathittu is somewhere near here, may be I should also go some day! Thanks for sharing the pictures…
Destination Infinity
Awesome captures, with detail information.
I like your stork pictures,
they are so cute and grey !!
(I thought they were always
black and white)
You can write so lovely words :
The chicks were slightly grown up with new feathers and a face that only a mother can love…..
It touched me 😉
Its soooooooooooo true 🙂
I did not know about this bird, so this was especially delightful to see. That's a really great set of "tweezers" for pinching up frogs, etc.!!
Great captures! There sure are a LOT of them in the tree!!
Indrani, what interesting images!
You've photographed the storks very well. And these birds are pleasant to see, I would say they are very "photogenic"! 🙂
Wow, a whole tree full of storks. Interesting birds.
What an apt name as the pictures show. And lovely flocks too!
Very beautiful shot.
Great shots of the Stork..
Wow I have never seen those before. Ever! They are so cool. Thank you for sharing… i like to see new stuff (well new to me). Fabulous shots.
There beaks are so interesting! I can't take my eyes off of them!
ohhhhh…. I have never seen one of those before. Really! They are so cool. Thank you for posting them… I like seeing new things (well new to me that is) 😀 Fabulous shots!
Thanks so much for the introduction to a bird I've never seen. Wonderful shots.
Hello dear friend!
Wonderful shots! These birds are amazing!
Happy Camera critters
purrs and love
Luna(from Brazil)
Storks are such magnificent birds. It's therefore that we chose the stork as a symbol for a new born baby.
What amazing birds! And glancing through some of your previous posts, I can see I'll be back for some more armchair travel!
Wow, there are so many! Wonderful shots!
I generally hate anyone who eat crabs cuz I'm a cancerian :-))
But, these birds look cute… Nicely shot pictures & Great bit of information! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Lovely captures… !!
loved the pics and really admire your travels and shots. loved the last line.."A face that only a mother can love.." beautiful and true.
Great pictures – nice to be able to see them up close
Very interesting to look at the birds at close shot.
Terrific shots of the storks! Great that you could get as close as you did! Interesting info about them as well! Thanks for sharing, Indrani.
Beautiful Pics…
Wonderful shots…thanks for sharing.
They are so fascinating and so many of them in one place.
Oh aren't they so beautiful?
Very cool looking stork. Nice to get so close for your great captures.