Migratory Birds

• 09 Mar 2019

Why is it in News?

A Heuglin’s Gull was sighted with a plastic bottle ring around its beak in Kerala recently, which has raised alarm about the plastic wastes present in ocean.

About Heuglin’s Gull:

• Heuglin's Gull or Siberian Gull breeds in Tundra belt of Northern Russia and migrates South to South West Asia, including India during the winters.
• They are listed as ‘Least Concern’ in the IUCN Red List and mainly feeds on molluscs, worms, and crustaceans.
• In India, they are often seen in the Ganga-Yamuna flood plains and South India.

Threats to Gulls in India:

• Plastic present in the ocean is a major threat to the gulls as they think it as a prey and it gets entangled around their neck or beak. This finally leads to their death.
• Encroachment of their habitats and bird traps are the other threats to gulls in India.