Mandarin Duck
Recently, Mandarin ducks have been sighted in the Maguri-Motapung beel in Assam’s Tinsukia district after a century. Over the past two years, the Forest Department of Assam has been trying to reintroduce a number of aquatic animals and birds that have been declared extinct by the IUCN Red list. Mandarin duck is one such creature.
About Mandarin ducks
Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist Carl Linnaeus first identified the Mandarin duck in 1758.
Scientific Name: Aix galericulata
Characteristics:
- Like most ducks, male Mandarins are much showier and more colorful than females. Females of this species have primarily grey and brown plumage, or feathers.
- Males have a beautiful pattern of iridescent red, brown, orange, green, and more. During the breeding season, the male also sports a “sail” of feathers over his back.
- Females are slightly larger than males. As a whole, the species generally measures between 8 and 10 inches long. Most Mandarin Ducks weigh between 1 and 3 pounds.
Diet:
- Mandarin Ducks eat both on land and in the water. These ducks are omnivores, and they eat a combination of plants and small creatures.
- They feed on a variety of plants, invertebrates, and small fish.
- Plants make up most of their diet, and they eat a wide variety of seeds, grains, rice, and more.
Habitat:
- This duck species lives in riparian habitats alongside rivers and streams.
- Their aquatic ecosystems must have forest or woodland very close because they only nest in tree cavities.
- Outside of breeding season they also utilize marshes, wetlands, flooded pastures, and rivers.
- Most Mandarins live near sea level, but they occupy regions up to 5,000 ft. above sea level.
Presence in India:
- The duck rarely visits India as it does not fall in its usual migratory route.
- It was recorded in 1902 in the Dibru river in the Rongagora area in Tinsukia (Assam).
- More recently, it was sighted in Manipur’s Loktak Lake in 2013, and in Saatvoini Beel in Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve in Assam’s Baksa district in 2014.
About the Maguri-Motapung Beel:
- Located near to Dibru-Saikhowa National Park and Motapung Village of Tinsukia district in Assam, Maguri Motapung Beel is a wetland and lake.
- Maguri Motapung Beel serve as natural home to wildlife and provide a source of livelihood to the local communities.
- It is approx 9 km away from Tinsukia town and 50 km from Dibrugarh Airport. This lake is 3.8 km away from Guijan Ferry Ghat which is the gateway of the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park.