Amaravati, February 10: Birdwatchers celebrated a significant find as a falcated duck (Mareca falcata), a Near Threatened species native to East Asia, appeared at Sylada Lake in northern Andhra Pradesh's Srikakulam district.
The bird, known for its striking green-and-bronze head and sickle-shaped tertials in males, winters in parts of South and Southeast Asia but is seldom recorded this far south in the country.
Naveen Balaga, an avid amateur birder, spotted and photographed the lone individual while scanning the lake, adding to growing evidence of migratory surprises in under-explored coastal and inland wetlands.
Experts note Srikakulam's habitats face pressures from development and human activity, yet such sightings underscore their value for conservation.
