What is the News ?

Recently, for the first time, breeding nests of crab plovers were spotted at Great Vedaranyam Swamp near Point Calimere, Tamil Nadu.

Facts About:

The Crab-Plover is a distinctive bird found along the coasts of the Indian Ocean.

• It stands out with its long legs and striking black-and-white colouration.

This bird belongs to the plover family and is closely related to other shorebird species.

Unlike most shorebirds, the Crab-Plover lays white eggs.

• Their chicks stay inside burrows until they are ready to fledge, which sets them apart from other shorebirds.

Distribution: They can spotted in various places around the Indian Ocean, as they are residents in these regions.

• They breed in places like the Arabian Sea in Pakistan, the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, Somalia, the Andaman Islands, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Madagascar.

Habitat: Crab Plovers make their homes in a variety of coastal environments, including sandy coastlines, mudflats, estuaries, lagoons, exposed coral reefs, and rocky shorelines. During the breeding season, they can also be found in sand dunes.

Conservation Status: The Crab-Plover is categorized as 'Least Concern' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

• Additionally, it falls under the protection of the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA).