Image
details
Canon equipment
Location: Narcondam Island, Andamans
Date: 18 January 2007
Shoot details
In January
2007, I was fortunate to be a part of bird survey team to Andaman and
Nicobar islands. Our last stop was at Narcondam Island. Early morning we
saw the glimpses of this majestic island, which was looking like
prehistoric place. From its structure, we could make out that it’s an
old volcano. That day sea was very rough and captain said that he would
not allow us to land on the island. To reach island we had to use small
rubber boat and it was very dangerous to do that journey of 3 km from
our boat. But some how we persuaded him and at last we embarked on the
geminy[ rubber boast]. Our small boat was tossed up and down by huge
waves and it was a scary experience. We were drenched in seawater and
tough time to keep camera equipment intact. Some how we reached the
island and after little search we were fortunate to see these awesome
birds.
Species details
This is
undoubtedly one of the rarest bird species on earth and just about
350 of these hornbills are found in only one small island - the
Narcondam Island in the Andamans. Classified as vulnerable by
Birdlife International due to restricted range and small population, the
bird featured here is, perhaps, one of the 80 odd breeding males in the
world.
A
Birds of India presentation
