Birdwatchers amazed as African Black Heron makes historic appearance in Chiplun wetlands; expert Dr. Shridhar Joshi captures rare ‘canopy feeding’ behavior on camera.
Chiplun | August 6, 2025: In a rare and possibly historic bird sighting, a pair of Black Herons (Egretta ardesiaca) — birds native to Africa — have been recorded for the first time in India. The stunning discovery was made by renowned bird watcher Dr. Shridhar Joshi, who spotted the elusive birds in the wetlands of Chiplun on the morning of August 3.
What makes this discovery even more remarkable is the behavior Dr. Joshi witnessed — a unique hunting technique known as ‘Canopy Feeding’, also called ‘Umbrella Feeding’. The herons were seen spreading their wings in a semicircle, creating a shady cover that lures fish underneath, making them easier to catch — a technique documented only in the African Black Heron.
After studying his footage in detail, Dr. Joshi confirmed the species by observing its all-black plumage, long legs, and distinct feeding style. The evidence, including photographs and notes, has been submitted to the Indian Bird Journal and, if validated, this will become the first official record of Black Herons in India.
The Black Heron is typically found in West and Southern Africa, with habitats across Senegal, Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, and Madagascar. While there have been occasional unconfirmed sightings in parts of Europe, no record of its presence in India existed until now.
Interestingly, the Black Heron is not a migratory species. It only shifts regions during severe scarcity of food or water, which makes its sudden appearance in Chiplun both unexpected and puzzling for ornithologists.
“The big question is — how did these African birds reach Chiplun? The mystery remains unsolved. Since last week, I’ve been scanning various wetlands to try and spot them again,” said Dr. Joshi.
This sighting has created a buzz in the birdwatching community and is being hailed as a significant moment in India’s ornithological history.
Follow us for real-time updates and local breaking stories:
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/newsdotz/
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@NewsDotz
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/NewsDotz/
Twitter – https://x.com/NewsDotz