The cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) is a cosmopolitan species of heron that is found in tropical and subtropical habitats across the world. This medium-sized egret has a distinct white plumage and is often seen following livestock and foraging in their vicinity. In this article, we will explore whether the cattle egret is found in India.
Range and Distribution
The cattle egret has an extremely wide global distribution due to its ability to adapt well to human-altered environments. It has established breeding colonies on every continent except Antarctica. The native range of cattle egret encompasses Africa, southern Europe, and parts of Asia.
Over the last century, the cattle egret has expanded its range dramatically by following human movements and colonizing new regions. It was introduced to North America in the early 20th century and spread rapidly across the continent. Similarly, it was brought to South America in the 1940s and can now be found throughout Central and South America.
In its native Old World range, the cattle egret occurs across Africa, central and southern Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. In Asia, it is found widely from central India eastwards to Southeast Asia, Indonesia, and China. The cattle egret has also colonized Australia in the 20th century after being introduced there.
Occurrence in India
Within Asia, India forms an important part of the cattle egret’s native range where it is a common resident breeder. India represents the western limits of the species range across South Asia before it gives way to the slightly larger western cattle egret which dominates further west.
The cattle egret has a widespread distribution across the Indian subcontinent. It can be found in all states and union territories of India from the high elevations of the Himalayas to the coastal plains. The cattle egret inhabits a variety of wetland habitats including marshes, flooded fields, riverbanks, lakesides, and estuaries. It is typically found in the company of cattle, buffaloes, and other domestic animals where it forages in their vicinity.
Some key aspects regarding the distributional status of cattle egret in India are:
– Common resident breeder across India
– Found up to elevations of 2,400 m in the Himalayas
– Occurs in all states and union territories
– Inhabits diverse wetland habitats
– Often associated with cattle and livestock
– Part of the native range of the species in Asia
Thus, the cattle egret has a wide and well-established distribution across the length and breadth of India. The presence of vast grasslands and wetlands, cattle ranches, and rice agriculture provide ideal habitats for the species to flourish in the country.
Breeding Population
The cattle egret has a large breeding population in India that likely runs into several hundred thousand pairs. The Atlas of the Breeding Birds of the Western Ghats region estimated the breeding population size of cattle egret to be between 50,000-100,000 pairs in the Western Ghats region alone.
Several large breeding colonies of cattle egrets with thousands of nests have been reported from wetlands across India including Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan), Sultanpur National Park (Haryana), Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu), and Athirappilly-Vazhachal region (Kerala) among others.
Notable cattle egret breeding sites in India include:
Site | Estimated Population |
Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan | 15,000 pairs |
Chilika Lake, Odisha | 20,000 individuals |
Sultanpur National Park, Haryana | 10,000 pairs |
Point Calimere WLS, Tamil Nadu | 5,000 pairs |
Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu | 2,000-3,000 pairs |
Athirappilly-Vazhachal, Kerala | 5,000 nests |
The cattle egret breeds during the monsoon season in mixed-species heronries, often with little egrets, black-crowned night herons, and other waterbirds. Colonies can contain hundreds to thousands of nests.
Overall, it is clear that cattle egrets maintain a sizeable breeding population across India taking advantage of the network of protected areas and wetlands that provide safe nesting sites.
Habitat and Ecology
The cattle egret has adapted well to man-altered environments in India and shows a strong preference for wet grasslands and farmlands. It occurs in close proximity to human habitations and cattle ranches.
Some typical habitats occupied by cattle egrets in India include:
– Freshwater marshes, edges of lakes and ponds
– Flooded grasslands, wet meadows and irrigated fields
– Rice fields and agricultural areas
– River and stream banks
– Tropical grasslands and scrublands
– Village outskirts and cattle ranches
Cattle egrets usually forage in loose groups and often associate with livestock like cattle, buffalo, goats, and sheep. The animals disturb insects and frogs as they graze while the egrets forage in close proximity to catch the prey disturbed by the animals. They also forage actively in wetlands and grasslands catching fish, amphibians, and insects.
A wide diversity of food is consumed including insects, fishes, frogs, lizards, snakes, and small mammals. Cattle egrets breeding in heronries make regular feeding flights to nearby wetlands and fields. They nest in mixed colonies, often alongside other herons and egrets. The nest is a small loose platform of sticks placed on trees, often acacias. Breeding coincides with the monsoon rains.
Threats and Conservation
The cattle egret has a very large global population estimated between 10 to 25 million individuals. The population appears to be stable at present and the species has even expanded its range in recent decades. Hence, it is classified as a species of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Within India, the major threats facing the species include:
– Habitat loss due to wetland drainage and degradation
– Declines in livestock numbers in some areas
– Disturbance to breeding colonies
– Pollution and pesticide impacts in agricultural areas
However, as a common and adaptable species, the cattle egret continues to thrive across its Indian range. Many key wetlands and breeding sites are protected which has aided conservation. Livestock numbers also continue to be high supporting cattle egret populations.
Some conservation actions recommended for cattle egrets in India are:
– Protection of key wetland habitats
– Monitoring and conservation of breeding colonies
– Sustainable management of livestock grazing areas
– Promoting agro-ecological farming to reduce chemical inputs
– Control on biocides and veterinary drugs that enter the wetland food chain
Conclusion
In conclusion, the cattle egret is a well-established and common species found across the length and breadth of India. Its range extends to all states and union territories in the country spanning a variety of wetland habitats. Large resident breeding populations in the range of several hundred thousand pairs occur in India. Though adaptable to human-altered environments, conserving key wetlands and heronries will help maintain viable populations of the species in the country. With huge livestock wealth supporting cattle egret populations and many protected areas securing habitats, the long-term outlook for cattle egrets in India appears positive. Care has to be taken to minimize impacts of agricultural intensification and habitat degradation on this species. But overall, the cattle egret continues to thrive in India which forms an integral part of its native range in southern Asia.