White winged wood duck - A celebrity of woodlands
Unlike most wetland birds, ducks that dwell in the open water bodies and woodlands, the white-winged wood duck loves to inhabit small secluded pools in thick tropical lowland forests. Due to human interference and development their favoured habitat is in threat & disappearing drastically around the world.Finally bearing a tag to these birds to become “Endangered” on IUCN list.Recently a sole male was sighted in Dehing Patkai National Park.It was truly electrifying moment and lifer for the birder adds after seeing such a species, particularly a bird as rare as the white-winged wood duck !
Vishwanath Radhakrishna
The dark clouds looming above and scattered diminishing sun light seemed hampering our birding trip. Long hours of walking inside Dehing Patkai National Park seemed all efforts were in vain. We could only spot few butterflies including Tawny Nawab,Albatross, Himalayan Punchinello, Commanders, Large fairy hair streak, Common five ring,Common Pierrot, Golden banded skippers and few more.
Back to Soraipung, my host Maji began to narrate his sighting of Deo haanh or Deo hans, in yester years. Initially I felt that it was a celestial bird and began to listen to him and gather information about it.I even felt, it may be Raj hans, found in lake Mansarovar in Tibet which i found during my visit in 2013.
I was excited to know that “White-winged Wood Duck (Cairina Scutulata)”, is in the list of most Endangered birds in the world. As per WWF-India’s study only about 800 survive in the world of which 450 are said to be present in three countries together in India, Bangladesh & Myanmar. In India, the Duck is limited to Assam & Arunachal Pradesh. This is the state bird of Assam and due to its ghostly call, it is referred to as ‘Deo Haans’ or ‘Spirit Duck’ in Assamese.
This wood duck is also evaluated as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Post lunch, we unanimously decided to visit the secluded lake, which was located 5 kms away on the fringes of dehing patkai national park.Though being seen fresh elephant dung and hearing stories of elephant attacks.We were determined to visit and , to try our luck on bicycle ! .Later we walked up half km deep into the forest to try our luck for this elusive bird.Though the backlight of setting sun illuminated the lake and environs.There was no trace of any bird. Our efforts were in vain,the duck had eluded us and we retreated after a 3 hours of long wait squatting in the bushes.
Evening was well spent watching a Golden orb weaver spider hunting a false tiger moth, caught in the web.I stood as a meek specatator watching the food chain, life cycle and mysteries of nature.
Spider Hunt
We reached Majis hut in the night, i was fortunate to meet Prof Rajib Rudra Tariang, who was one of the person to photograph the duck it at Dehing Patkai NP.
A strong feeling made me feel that such a species inhabits quiet, secluded forest waterways, slow flowing wetlands and it retreats during dawn and dusk.
Why not to try again ?. We decided to visit in the wee hours next day dead calm morning.We reached the lake @ 3am misty morning and were watchful of movements.We could hear the shrilling sound of busy fishers.
Un noticebly !. May be because of sound of slight foot movement, a gentle rustle broke the silence.A bird flew and perched nonchalantly on a fallen log cropping up from the waterbody. Maji noticed it, and gestured me I literally crawled on all four for about 200 feet holding my camera and 200 mm - 500 mm Nikon lens and reached the bank of the lake. I could see a magnificient bird, from approx 150 feet. ' Maji added, sirji, yahi Deo hans hai, jaldi chup chap photo lelo ".The sky had the faintest glow of yellow and orange added to it, i could barely see it with your eyes. I was able to get a clear shot standing hiding in the bushes. I could see its movement, colourful plumage and hear its call. It posed and entertained us for nearly 25 minutes.It probably called his companion. I watched it flying gracefully, their soft wings beating against sunlight in the backdrop of green cast forest made our day.I felt a deep sense of awe and relief !
Maji looking at photos replied, Aap Bahut Lucky hai sir !.With incredible people like Maji with no expectation, faithfulness and commitment.Everything is possible.I thanked him from bottom of heart !
It finally disappered in woods. It was one of my WOW moment of my life !. With a feeling of satisfaction & cherishing moment of life.We headed back promising to come back again to get a few more pictures of bird in the calm water.
As the sun was out of veil of clouds. A busy fluttering Spangle, a call of Assamese macaques reminded us of their existence and yellow footed green pigeon, Common Moorhen leisurely basking in the golden sun greeted us !!!
