New Delhi: Nordmann`s Greenshank, a beautiful Russian shorebird which migrates annually to many south Asian countries, including India, is listed as `endangered` on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The key threat to the bird is the rapid rate of reclamation and development of coastal wetlands throughout Asia for industry, infrastructure and aquaculture, said the International Union for Conservation of Nature, world`s oldest and largest global environmental organisation.
Pollution in coastal wetlands, hunting and human disturbance also threaten this species, and the degradation of its breeding habitat is caused by grazing reindeer, the IUCN said.
A few protected and non-hunting areas have been established in Russia and along the migration route of the bird, also known as Spotted Greenshank.
According to Birdlife International, breeding adults of Nordmann`s Greenshank are boldly marked with whitish spots and spangling on blackish upper side, heavily streaked head and upper neck, broad blackish crescentic spots on lower neck and breast and darker lores.
"In flight, it shows all-white upper tail-coverts and rather uniform greyish tail. Toes do not extend beyond tail tip," it said.
"Conservation priorities include establishing further protected areas in its breeding grounds, as well as at important sites in the winter range, drafting management plans for coastal wetlands to promote their conservation, banning the hunting of all shorebirds in its breeding grounds and providing full legal protection throughout the range," the IUCN said.
PTI
