Oriental Darter – Snakebird

Now a days, if you had been to Sukhna Lake, particularly near the Regulator End, you must have noticed Photographers with their long lenses waiting for someone to land or come out of the water.  Sometimes the wait continues for more than half an hour but it pays. Suddenly a long neck comes out of water with or without a fish and the photographers try their luck to get a good shot of the moment, which lasts for less than 5 Seconds.

“The 5 Second Rule..” If you have an instinct to act on a goal, you mush physically move with in five seconds or your brain will kill it. The rule well applies on the Photographers as well as the Snakebird.

Sukhna Lake, Chandigarh

I am talking about the Oriental Darter, which gets its name from its hunting style, as it uses its long darting neck to snap at fish and sharp beak at lightning-fast speed to spear, which it then swallows whole. It hunts for fish while its body is submerged in water. It spears a fish underwater, bringing it above the surface, tossing and juggling it before swallowing the fish head first.

Sukhna Lake, Chandigarh

The structure of its peculiar neck, which is slightly bent, allows the bird to dart forward quickly and rapidly as it impales its quarry underwater. The body remains submerged as it swims, and the slender neck and beak alone are visible above the water. It is this long Serpentine neck that also gives the darter its other, more colloquial name – Snakebird.

It is a very beautiful looking mostly black bird, with white streaks on its upper wings.

Sukhna Lake, Chandigarh

Darters have feathers that are less naturally water-resistant than other birds, an adaptation that enables them to forage and glide effortlessly underwater in search of prey more easily.  However, this necessitates regular time out of the water to dry sodden feathers and regulate body temperature.  After a successful hunt, this bird can be seen perched on a rock or branch with its wings outstretched, under the sun to dry off their waterlogged feathers.

Clicked at Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary

Darters are superb swimmers and use their feet for propulsion and as such those appendages are uniquely webbed across all four toes, effectively broadening the surface area they use to propel themselves.

Sukhna Lake, Chandigarh

The sexes are not easily distinguishable.  They are monogamous species (having only one partner) they form strong pair bonds for life. These birds can live up to 12 years. The diet consists of small fish, amphibians, and aquatic insects.

Sukhna Lake, Chandigarh