After bamboo trees were felled in Assam’s Udalguri district over the fear of the spread of Covid-19 from the bird droppings, nearly 200 egret and cormorant hatchlings died (on Thursday).

An order was issued this month by the executive officer of the Tangla Town Committee to five residents, following which the trees were felled.

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The order issued on June 8 said, “The droppings of egrets nesting on bamboo trees in your property have led to unhygienic conditions and could lead to spread of Corona infection.”

The order added, “Residents in the neighbourhood are living in unhygienic conditions (because of the droppings). Therefore, you are directed to cut the bamboo trees in your property, which falls in the town’s area, and help create a healthy environment.”

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Despite the order, the residents did not cut the trees. Subsequently, the town committee went ahead and felled them on Thursday. That caused the destruction of the egret nests and many eggs, hatchlings fell on the ground.

Cormorants

In India, there are three species of Cormorants regularly found, all of which are widespread. The species have a largely overlapping preference in habitat and are often mistaken for each other.

The Little Cormorant has a small head which can appear rectangular due to the steep forehead, and it has a short bill.

The Great Cormorant has a large head (and a much thicker neck than the other two cormorants). It has a long but thicker and larger bill. The Indian Cormorant has an elongated and an oval-shaped head. It has a long, narrow and finer bill than the other two cormorants.

The breeding adult (Little Cormorant) appears all black on the head. A non-breeding adult has browner pouch and bill with some white on the chin.

The breeding adult in Indian cormorant appears glossy black with greenish-blue eyes. It has a white tuft on the ear-coverts. On the other hand, the non-breeding adult is browner with a yellowish gular pouch and white on throat.

The breeding adult in great cormorant has extensive white on head with a red spot at the base of the bill. The non-breeding adult great cormorant has a yellow gular patch with white throat and cheeks.

The Great Cormorant also has a white spot on the lower flanks, in breeding plumage.

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Egret

In India, it is common to see one or many white egret birds looking for prey in wet fields and water bodies, or flying overhead to roost late in the evening.

The little egret (Egrettagarzetta) is a small white heron. The adult little egret is about 55–65 cm (22–26 in) long with an 88–106 cm (35–42 in) wingspan. It weighs 350–550 g (12–19 oz). Its plumage is all white, and in the breeding season, the adult has two long nape plumes and gauzy plumes on the back and breast. Its bare skin between the bill and eyes becomes red or blue. Juvenile little egrets are similar to non-breeding adults but have greenish-black legs and duller yellow feet. Little egrets are mostly silent. But, they make various croaking and bubbling calls at their breeding colonies. They produce a harsh alarm call when disturbed. Its breeding distribution is in wetlands in warm temperate to tropical parts of continents like Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia.